F1 Rumour: McLaren Steals Aston Martin Aerodynamicist Amid Radical Team Changes
In a bold series of moves, McLaren aims to shake up the F1 landscape by bolstering its technical team and enhancing its aero department. With the recent departure of technical director James Key, and the arrival of David Sanchez from Ferrari in 2024, it has now been revealed that 15 new aero experts from top teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Aston Martin are set to join the team.
One notable addition is Aston Martin's head of aero performance and analysis, Mariano Alperin, who played a significant role in the British manufacturer's insane improvements bringing the team up into the mix at the top of the grid and giving Red Bull a run for their money.
With extensive experience under his belt, Alperin has worked with AGS, Minardi, British American Racing, and Honda, where he served as the head of aerodynamics from 2006 to 2007. After his stint with Honda, he joined Sauber in 2008 as the head of aerodynamic development, where he stayed until 2019 before transitioning to Aston Martin as the chief of aerodynamic technology.
On top of the new additions to the team, McLaren is determined to capitalise on the upcoming completion of its new wind tunnel and simulator by the end of the year. CEO Zak Brown acknowledged the team's structure had been lacking in recent years, prompting these significant changes to reposition McLaren at the front of the grid. He explained, according to Autosport.com:
"It has been clear to me for some time that our technical development has not moved at a quick enough pace to match our ambition of returning to the front of the grid. I'm pleased that, having completed a full review with Andrea, we are now able to implement the restructure required to set the wheels in motion to turn this around."