“Period of disappointing results” prompts Alpine Technical team departures 

Alpine’s 2024 woes have worsened overnight with the announcement that Technical Director Matt Harman and head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer have departed from the French team following a points-less run in Bahrain last weekend.

The news comes after a far-from-ideal start to the 2024 Formula 1 season, which saw Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly starting the race from the back on the grid, and only promoting their new-concept A524 to P17 and P18 come the chequered flag. 

In a statement released by Alpine, the team announced the “organisation changes across its technical teams”.

“BWT Alpine F1 Team today introduces a series of organisational changes throughout its technical teams where it will take a new three-pillared approach. 

“The team has created three specialised technical roles: Technical Director (Performance), Technical Director (Aerodynamics) and Technical Director (Engineering), replacing the previous structure of a singular Technical Director.

“The decision comes after a period of disappointing results in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, where the team has fallen from finishing fourth in the 2022 Championship to sixth in 2023, missing several key targets in its ambitions to reach the front of the grid.”

Otmar Szafnauer, former Alpine F1 Team Principal and former CEO Laurent Rossi during the Belgian GP last year. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

The changes also come after an internally tumultuous 2023 season in which former Alpine F1 Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer was dismissed mid-Belgium Grand Prix weekend, temporarily replaced by Bruno Famin who was confirmed as full-time Team Principal earlier this year.

Along with Szafnauer’s departure, Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry and CEO Laurent Rossi all left the team as well.

As replacements for Harman and de Beer, Alpine announced Joe Burnell as Technical Director of Engineering, David Wheater as Technical Director of Aerodynamics, and Ciaron Pilbeam as Technical Director of Performance. 

“The three will work closely together and report to Team Principal Bruno Famin, with immediate effect,” the team statement said.

“On a power unit side, the technical team in Viry is led by Technical Director (Power Unit) Eric Meignan who continues to work on the 2026 PU project. 

Esteban Ocon led teammate Pierre Gasly to a P17-P18 finish in the Bahrain GP. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

“The team can also confirm the start of the tenures of Chief Operating Officers John Woods at Enstone and Audrey Vastroux at Viry-Chatillon to continue the development of the factories behind the Formula 1 project.

“BWT Alpine F1 Team’s Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer have chosen to leave the team to seek new challenges. 

“The team thanks Matt and Dirk for their efforts at the team and wishes them the best in their future endeavours.”

Before true changes to the A524 can be made, Ocon and Gasly will be thrown into the high-speed challenge that is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix later this week, kicking off from 12:30 AM, Friday morning, AEST.

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