Alpine has confirmed the appointment of former FIA man Jason Somerville as its new deputy technical director.<\/p>\n
After finishing bottom of the 2025 constructors\u2019 standings, Alpine has enjoyed a much-improved start to the F1 2026 season and sits fifth with 23 points after the opening four races.<\/p>\n
Alpine signs Jason Somerville as deputy tech boss after FIA exit<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Somerville previously worked for the Enstone-based team \u2013 then competing under the banner of Renault \u2013 across 2010\/11 before a spell with Williams.<\/p>\n Following a stint with Formula One Management, where he worked on the 2022 ground-effect regulations, he joined the FIA as head of aerodynamics in 2022, playing an instrumental role in further rule changes before his departure earlier this week.<\/p>\n Pierre Gasly vs Franco Colapinto: Alpine head-to-head stats for F1 2026 season<\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head race statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n Alpine has announced that Somerville has returned to the team after 15 years in the role of deputy technical director, reporting to tech boss David Sanchez.<\/p>\n He will start work with his new employer with immediate effect.<\/p>\n Somerville\u2019s return sees him reunite with executive adviser Flavio Briatore and managing director Steve Nielsen, who also rejoined Alpine last year after a stint as the FIA\u2019s sporting director.<\/p>\n Somerville said: \u201cI am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio, Steve and David in this new role.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been away from the competitive side of motorsport within a team environment for a few years now and I\u2019m relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019s success in the not too distant future.\u201d<\/p>\n David Sanchez, Alpine\u2019s executive technical director, added: \u201cWe are thrilled to have someone of Jason\u2019s calibre and experience joining the team and to continue our sustained level of progress.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cAdding Jason to our technical team will allow us to take even further steps to better our performance in the latest Formula 1 development race.\u201d<\/p>\n Somerville\u2019s arrival comes after PlanetF1.com reported earlier this week<\/a> that Alpine is in talks with luxury fashion brand Gucci over a potential title sponsorship agreement for the F1 2027 season.<\/p>\n BWT has acted as Alpine\u2019s sponsor since 2022 with the deal believed to be expiring at the end of this year.<\/p>\n Luca de Meo, the former Renault chief executive, was appointed CEO of Gucci parent company Kering in September 2025.<\/p>\n In a statement provided to PlanetF1.com on Tuesday, Alpine said: \u201cAlpine Formula One Team is constantly looking for new partnership opportunities and in contact with a wide range of brands and companies as potential partners.<\/p>\n \u201cThe discussions are however always kept confidential and they are disclosed only when confirmed and agreed by all parties.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n