Experienced Formula 1 engineer Bob Bell has become the latest name to depart Alpine, leaving his position as an advisor to end his association with the Enstone team.
Bell had worked with the operation across three spells, starting in 1997 when it ran under the Benetton guise before returning in 2001 when it had evolved into Renault.
The Briton was promoted to Technical Director in 2003 and oversaw the design of the two cars that Fernando Alonso drove to consecutive F1 titles in 2005 and 2006.
Following the ‘Crashgate’ scandal that saw Flavio Briatore ousted, Bell served as Acting Team Principal for the remainder of 2009 and then Managing Director in 2010.
However, Bell left the French marque in October and went to Mercedes, becoming Technical Director and having an immense influence on the dominant W05 of 2014.
Having endured a stint with the now-defunct Manor Marussia side as a technical consultant, Renault named Bell as its Technical Director for its revived F1 programme.
The ex-McLaren engineer would slide back into being an advisor in 2018. Although his involvement on the F1 side had diminished, Bell worked part-time for Alpine Labs.
Bell’s departure comes amid wholesale changes within Alpine’s F1 organisation, which began last term with then Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer vacating his position.
Long-serving Sporting Alan Permane, now with RB, was also shown the exit door, while Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry headed for pastures new with the Williams team.
Amid Alpine’s disastrous beginning to the latest campaign, it was announced that Technical Director Matt Harman and Head of Aerodynamics Dirk de Beer had stepped down.
Alpine Team Principal Bruno Famin has chosen to replicate McLaren’s model of implementing a three-pronged technical structure to oversee the flailing camp’s fortunes.
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