Alpine appoint former FIA head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville as deputy technical director

Somerville begins the newly created role today, 15 May, reporting to Executive Technical Director David Sanchez.

It marks a return to Enstone for Somerville, who worked in the team’s Aerodynamics Department between 2010 and 2011. His Formula 1 career began with Williams in 1999 before he joined Toyota Racing in 2003, rising to Deputy Head of Aerodynamics.

He later returned to Williams in a senior role, leading the team’s Aerodynamics Department, before joining Formula 1 Management to work on the 2022 technical regulations.

Somerville moved to the FIA in 2022 as Head of Aerodynamics, overseeing regulation cycles aimed at improving the racing spectacle.

Alpine said the new Deputy Technical Director role is intended to strengthen its group of designers and aerodynamicists as the team continues its performance recovery in the new era of Formula 1.

Somerville said: “I am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio, Steve, and David in this new role.

"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.

“I am looking forward to getting underway and 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," he concluded.

Alpine have started the 2026 season competitively and sit 5th in the Constructors’ Championship with 23 points after four Grands Prix.

That is the team’s highest points total at this stage of a season after 4 rounds, and already beats Alpine’s full 2025 total.

Sanchez said: “We are thrilled to have someone of Jason's calibre and experience joining the team and to continue our sustained level of progress. The work the team has already done this season has been extraordinary, but we all know that is just the beginning of the job and not one team member is resting on their laurels.

“Adding Jason to our technical team will allow us to take even further steps to better our performance in the latest Formula One development race," he concluded.

Somerville’s appointment follows key hires made last summer and comes under the leadership of Flavio Briatore and Managing Director Steve Nielsen, as Alpine push to turn their early 2026 recovery into sustained development momentum.