Alpine F1 Confirm Major New Signing from FIA

Alpine has officially confirmed the hiring of Jason Somerville as deputy technical director, effective immediately. Somerville joins from the FIA, where he served as head of aerodynamics, and will report to executive technical director David Sanchez in a newly created role at the team's Enstone base.

Why it matters:

This signing underscores Alpine's push to strengthen its technical leadership amid a competitive 2026 season. Somerville's return to Enstone — where he worked during the team's Lotus era — brings valuable experience from both a top F1 team and the sport's governing body. The creation of a dedicated deputy technical director role signals Alpine's intent to build engineering depth as they aim to close the gap to the frontrunners.

The details:

• Somerville concluded his work at the FIA earlier this week as head of aerodynamics, with his move to Alpine previously reported by RacingNews365.
• The deputy technical director position is a new addition to the team's structure, reporting directly to David Sanchez.
• This marks Somerville's return to Enstone after a 15-year absence — he previously held a role at the team during its Lotus era in 2010 and 2011.
• Somerville expressed excitement about returning to a competitive team environment: "I'm relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware."
• He will join a "superb team of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists" at the factory, under the leadership of Flavio Briatore and Steve.

Looking Ahead:

With the 2026 season underway, Alpine will look to integrate Somerville quickly. His expertise in aerodynamics could prove vital as the team continues development of its current car and prepares for future regulatory shifts. The move reflects a broader trend of teams reinforcing technical ranks mid-season to maximize performance.