McLaren are set to appoint Aston Martin senior aerodynamicist Mariano Alperin as part of a continuous recruitment drive by the Formula 1 team to boost the performance and efficiency of its car.
The Woking outfit began the restructuring of its technical department last week with the departure of technical director James Key and the confirmation of Ferrari Chief Engineer, Vehicle Concept, David Sanchez, who will join in 2024.
After a comprehensive review of the organisation over the winter, McLaren’s aero department was seen as not good enough to match its ambitions to move higher up the grid.
According to reports, Alperin, who heads Aston Martin’s aerodynamics performance and analysis department, is set to be the latest to McLaren’s technical team. Alperin has played a role in the transformation of the 2023 Aston Martin car which has emerged as the second-fastest car behind Red Bull Racing after two rounds of races this season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Alperin has a great deal of experience in F1, having had spells at Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives (AGS) and Minardi before joining British American Racing (BAR) and eventually becoming head of aerodynamics at Honda from 2006 to 2007. Alperin then became head of aerodynamic development at Sauber from 2008 until 2019, before moving to Aston Martin.
Hello, Melbourne! ????????????
Let our #AusGP week begin. ???? pic.twitter.com/Rh5ZrGDE1M
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 27, 2023
McLaren sit bottom of the 2023 constructors’ championship with no points after its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished towards the base of the grid in the opening two races and also recorded retirements. They will hope to secure enough points at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
