F1 News: Aston Martin Scoops Up Alpine Advisor - "Optimising Everything"
Aston Martin Formula 1 team announced the acquisition of Bob Bell as its new Executive Director – Technical following his high-profile departure from Alpine. Bell will report directly to Team Principal Mike Krack and assume responsibility for Technical, Engineering and Performance functions.
Key takeaways:
- Bob Bell joins Aston Martin as Executive Director – Technical from Alpine
- Bell's exit adds to Alpine's leadership vacuum and poor start to 2024 season
- Will oversee Technical, Engineering and Performance areas at Aston Martin
- Aston Martin Aramco media
The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has made a significant move by securing the services of Bob Bell as their new Executive Director – Technical. This appointment comes at a time when Bell has parted ways with Alpine, where he held an advisory role, adding to the French team's ongoing leadership turmoil and underwhelming on-track performance.
Bell's switch to Aston Martin marks another chapter in Alpine's ongoing turmoil, as the Enstone-based squad grapples with a leadership vacuum and underwhelming track performance. The 65-year-old Briton, who had been associated with Alpine (formerly Renault and Benetton) since the late 1990s, was the technical director during Fernando Alonso's title-winning years in 2005 and 2006.
"I am delighted to welcome Bob Bell to Aston Martin Aramco," expressed Team Principal Mike Krack. "This is a key appointment to ensure we are optimising everything we do as a team and focusing on the right performance areas.
"Bob's track record in the sport speaks for itself and his experience will help us continue to make steps forward on the exciting journey we are on."
Alpine's woes began last year with the ousting of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane, triggering a mass exodus of senior figures. Chief technical officer Pat Fry, CEO Laurent Rossi, and most recently, Technical Director Matt Harman, have all parted ways with the team.
The squad's dismal showing in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix only exacerbated the internal turmoil. Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon qualified at the very back of the grid, with Ocon finishing 17th and Gasly 18th – a worrying sign of regression for the French manufacturer.
In his new role at Aston Martin, Bell will report directly to Krack and "assume overall responsibility for the Technical, Engineering and Performance functions" within the Silverstone squad. Bell, whose involvement in Formula 1 dates back to 1982 when he joined McLaren, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating@
"I have been impressed by the progress Aston Martin Aramco has made in recent years. The opportunity to play my part in that journey is incredibly exciting and I look forward to working with the great technical leaders at Silverstone.
"The scale and ambition of this project is highly motivating. I am a racer, and I see the hunger and determination powering this team. I look forward to playing my part with Mike and the rest of the team," Bell added.