Jason Somerville Joins Alpine as Deputy Technical Director After Completing FIA Gardening Leave

Jason Somerville, who served as the FIA‘s head of aerodynamics since February 2022, has formally begun his tenure at the Alpine Formula 1 team following the conclusion of a six-month gardening leave period. Somerville takes on the newly-created position of deputy technical director, reporting directly to Alpine’s technical chief David Sanchez.

His arrival at Enstone was first reported by Autosport in November, when it emerged that Somerville had agreed terms with the French constructor before entering his notice period. During the gardening leave, he remained active within the FIA but was assigned to non-sensitive projects away from Formula 1 operations.

Somerville expressed enthusiasm about the move. “I am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio, Steve, and David in this new role,” he 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. 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.”

The appointment reconnects Somerville with Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen, the two having previously worked alongside one another at both the FIA and F1 Management. Before his regulatory role, Somerville performed a comparable aerodynamics function at the Formula One Management organisation and had earlier held positions within the aero departments at Williams, Toyota, and Lotus.

Somerville’s departure from the FIA came after he played a significant part in shaping Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations — one of the sport’s most sweeping ruleset overhauls in recent memory. Following his resignation, the governing body redistributed his responsibilities across existing personnel, including FIA head of single-seaters Jan Monchaux. The FIA has also reportedly made several new hires in recent months to reinforce its London-based aerodynamics department.

Alpine’s timing in securing Somerville’s services appears deliberate. The team channelled its 2025 campaign entirely toward preparing for the new regulations, and that strategic decision is beginning to yield dividends. Through four rounds of the 2026 season, Alpine sits fifth in the constructors’ championship — the highest-placed midfield team — with drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto having accumulated a combined 23 points.

The structural reinforcement of Alpine’s technical department arrives at a pivotal moment. The 2026 regulations have reshuffled the competitive order across the grid, and teams that invested heavily in early development of the new-generation cars have entered the season with a measurable advantage. Somerville’s deep familiarity with those regulations, having been instrumental in drafting them from the FIA’s side, could prove a significant asset as Alpine looks to consolidate and improve upon its current midfield standing.

His appointment also adds further depth to a technical structure that has undergone considerable restructuring in recent seasons, with David Sanchez having himself joined Alpine in a senior capacity as the team repositioned ahead of the regulation change.