Alpine reveal thinking behind new three-pronged tech approach

Alpine Team Principal Bruno Famin has explained why his squad has implemented a trio of technical directors shortly after the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

RacingNews365 revealed earlier this month that Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer had handed in their resignations.

Alpine has endured a difficult start to the campaign, fielding one of the slowest cars on the grid after finishing sixth in the constructors’ championship last year.

Following the season-opening round in Bahrain, Alpine announced it had set up a new technical structure, with three individuals overseeing separate areas.

They are Technical Director (Performance) Ciaron Pilbeam, Technical Director (Aerodynamics) David Wheater and Technical Director (Engineering) Joe Burnell.

Explaining why it has opted to go down that route, Famin said: “We really want to bring to the factories what we have done on the track side by the end of the last season.

“I mean changing the mindset, unleashing the creativity, and having three technical directors makes the organisation much more horizontal, much less vertical.

“More activity, more agility, and the motto is really to develop our people.

“We have very talented people and we want them to bring as much as they can to the project, to the team, to the company.”

Alpine hope to see 2024 impact

The exits of Harman and de Beer mark the latest in a series of departures at the Alpine squad.

Laurent Rossi was axed as CEO last year, shortly before Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane left their roles as Team Principal and Sporting Director respectively during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend in late July.

Alpine also announced at the time that Pat Fry had exited his position as Chief Technical Officer ahead of a switch to Williams.

When asked if the new technical structure would have an impact on the current car or its successor, Famin said: “Both, because we have a new car with the A524.

“There is potential in this car. We have something coming for sure, but we also need to change our way of developing the car, maybe racing the car as well.

“We need to change our general approach to everything we will learn on the A524 which will be very helpful for developing the A526 for sure.”