Alpine F1 announce shock appointment to lead technical team

The Alpine Formula 1 squad has announced it has appointed David Sanchez to the newly created role of Executive Technical Director.

Sanchez will oversee the technical department at Enstone and will have responsibility for the Performance, Engineering and Aerodynamic areas of the squad.

The Frenchman will start in his role immediately, with the signing occurring just a handful of weeks after his departure from McLaren.

Sanchez was part of the McLaren set-up for just three months, with the parties opting to split after finding his duties were not aligned with what was previously discussed.

In his new position at Alpine, he will manage the fresh technical structure at the team with Ciaron Pilbeam (Technical Director - Performance), Joe Burnell (Technical Director - Engineering), and David Wheater (Technical Director - Aerodynamics) all reporting to him.

Alpine has endured a difficult start to the 2024 F1 season and currently sit ninth in the constructors' championship with zero points scored following the opening five rounds.

Sanchez returns to the team he began his F1 career with, having joined it in 2005 as a junior aerodynamicist when it ran under the Renault name.

Prior to his short stint at McLaren, Sanchez enjoyed a decade-long career at Ferrari, holding a senior role in its aerodynamic department.

“I’m excited by this challenge at Alpine,” Sanchez said. “I’m looking forward to working at Enstone again, the place where I started my Formula 1 career.

“This team has always had so many fantastic people involved and there is clearly so much potential to unlock. We have a big task ahead to improve on-track performance and it is this type of challenge that motivates me.

“I’m very much ready to begin and look forward to working with the Enstone-Viry technical teams again with the sole aim of bringing regular success back to this great team.”