F1 | Famin: “Sanchez already active, he is reviewing the team’s priorities”

It was March 23, 2023 when McLaren announced the arrival in Woking of David Sanchez from Ferrari starting from January 1, 2024. An arrival considered significant in a context that has seen the Woking team strengthen thanks to the hiring of several prominent technicians , including that of Rob Marshall from Red Bull.

However, less than four months after his return to England, where he had worked before starting the adventure with the Cavallino, Sanchez himself left McLaren again, in what was an unexpected separation.

What led to the separation between the team and the aerodynamicist was the role misalignment that Sanchez found himself facing after his arrival in Woking, given a change in context compared to the moment in which he initially signed the contract.

Those who immediately took advantage of this separation were Alpine, who saw in the French engineer a key element to strengthen their staff, undermined by the departure of some elements over the last year and a half, such as Pat Fry, Matt Harman, Bob Belle and Dirk De Beer who have decided to leave the Enstone team to pursue other projects. Alpine has reorganized the structure with a horizontal approach led by three technical directors, but it is clear that new reinforcements from other teams are essential to try to get back on top.

The transalpine team started the year with a car that, at times, represented the last force on the grid, but the latest updates have not only contributed to improving the aerodynamics, but also to reducing the weight, reaching around the weight minimal, as stated by the team. A slimming cure that Alpine has focused on after the winter problems in chassis homologation which delayed several processes.

Compared to Bahrain, the progress is evident, but it is clear that the team is not yet where it would like to be in terms of competitiveness: “We have certainly improved, but we are still not where we would like to be. I think getting the point in Miami was the symbol of this improvement, but you can’t be happy for getting a point in the sixth race of the season,” explained Bruno Famin, Alpine Team Principal.

David Sanchez, Alpine Executive Technical Director

Photo by: Alpine

“However, the trend is positive and now, with David Sanchez arriving in the team a week ago, I am sure it will be a very interesting boost for the team. Everyone knows that things can’t be changed overnight, it will take time, but it’s very interesting to have his opinion on what we’re doing. I’m not at all worried about his ability to integrate into the team and the added value he can bring,” added the Frenchman, underlining that he learned that Sanchez was free when the separation was announced by McLaren.

At that point Alpine immediately took action to take him to Enstone. This aspect was also influenced by the fact that, when it was decided to break the contract with the Woking team, Sanchez had the opportunity to immediately join another team: “Sometimes you have this type of situations, but you have to know how to seize opportunities when they exist,” added Famin, who was one of the main architects of the engineer’s move to Alpine.

“David told us there is a lot of room for improvement. Which is something we knew. I think he said that there are strengths, weaknesses, very weak points, but also that there are good people. The challenge is to make everything work, to bring out our strengths and manage the weakest ones. I think there is nothing new in what he says, but he has a very precise look at what will help us go faster.”

The Alpine simulator

Photo by: Alpine

Since his arrival in Enstone, Sanchez has already had an initial impact, not so much on the car, but on the team’s priorities. Clearly the engineer is not allowed to give sensitive information on the structures of Ferrari and McLaren due to binding contracts, but his contribution is also useful for understanding how to move and what approach is followed by other teams.

“Clearly Sanchez is not allowed to give too much information, especially from McLaren and Ferrari. He must and will respect his contract, of course. What’s interesting is that in Enstone we have a great plan to improve facilities, which is already being implemented. The interesting aspect of David is perhaps that he redefines the priorities of some topics”.

“Our priority at the moment is the new simulator. We are completely focused on this. He is satisfied with the simulator we will have. Now we have several test benches and we are reprioritizing based on his opinions. We have an important plan, a lot to do, and we are working on it.”