Alpine Formula 1 team has officially secured a major aerodynamic upgrade—not for the car, but for the engineering team. Jason Somerville, the former FIA head of aerodynamics, has started his new role as deputy technical director at the Enstone-based squad after completing a six-month gardening leave period.
Somerville, who has been a key figure in shaping Formula 1's upcoming 2026 regulations, brings a wealth of experience from both the sport's governing body and F1 management. His move to Alpine was first reported by Motorsport.com back in November, and now he's finally in the building, ready to make an impact.
In this newly created position, Somerville will report directly to technical chief David Sanchez, reuniting him with Alpine's managing director Steve Nielsen. The pair previously worked together at both the FIA and FOM, giving them an established working relationship that should help hit the ground running.
"I am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio, Steve, and David in this new role," Somerville said. "I have been away from the competitive side of motorsport within a team environment for a few years now and I'm relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware."
Somerville's resume reads like a who's who of F1 engineering powerhouses, with previous stints in the aero departments of Williams, Toyota, and Lotus. Since February 2022, he served as the FIA's head of aerodynamics, following a similar role at FOM. His departure from the governing body saw his duties redistributed among personnel including the FIA's head of single-seaters Jan Monchaux, though the FIA has reportedly made key recruitments to bolster its London-based aerodynamic team.
For Alpine, this signing represents more than just a new face in the engineering department. The team has started the 2026 season on the front foot after dedicating all of last year to its development plan. With Somerville's expertise in the new regulations he helped create, the team is positioning itself for a strong push up the grid.
As Somerville puts it: "I am looking forward to joining the superb team of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists at the factory and hopefully contributing to some of the team's success in the not too distant future."