The aerodynamics director left the team just one year after taking the position and complicates planning for the next season
Wheater's work encompassed the complete supervision of the design of aerodynamic surfaces, from the front wing to the diffuser and cooling ducts. His departure, just a year after taking the position, leaves a considerable void in one of the most sensitive areas for the single-seater's performance.
The team had divided technical responsibility into three areas: Wheater in Aerodynamics, Joe Burnell in Engineering, and Ciaron Pilbeam in Performance. All of them under the supervision of David Sánchez, appointed as Executive Technical Director to coordinate and strengthen the team's leadership.
With Wheater's departure, that structure is weakened and forces Alpine to rethink its technical strategy in the middle of the championship. This is even more pressing when the results on track aren't favorable and attention is already focused on the future 2026 regulations.
Alpine's presence in Formula 1 is marked by instability. After internal changes, dismissals, and a renewal in the driver line-up (with the promotion of Argentine Franco Colapinto), the French team suffered another blow: the departure of David Wheater, who served as Technical Director of Aerodynamics.
The news is causing concern in Enstone, since Wheater was a key link in the recently implemented "three-pillar" technical structure. His area was crucial for the development of the current single-seater and, above all, for the 2026 project, where Alpine is focusing its hopes of becoming competitive again.
Aerodynamics is one of the most important factors in F1, since it determines the car's aerodynamic load, which is essential for grip and cornering speed, and drag, which limits top speed. So far, the team hasn't appointed an official successor to lead that department.
