The FIA is saying goodbye to another key figure: the head of aerodynamics will officially leave his role at the beginning of 2026. The governing body of world motorsport is losing yet another important member ahead of the 2026 season, as another major figure will step away from his position early next year.
The person in question is James Somerville, who joined the motorsport governing body in 2022. The FIA’s head of aerodynamics has reportedly already submitted his resignation. The announcement was shared through a spokesperson of the Federation, without specifying what his next destination might be.
A former Williams Racing aerodynamicist and one of the central figures who guided the current ground-effect regulations, Somerville will be required to complete six months of mandatory gardening leave before re-entering the sport in May 2026. Previously, his name had been linked to Cadillac for a potential project that would have seen him help the American manufacturer prepare its entry into Formula 1 for the 2026 season. New indications now suggest that this move may no longer be possible, and another team has entered the picture.
According to GPblog, James Somerville is reportedly in talks with Alpine, with the Enstone outfit targeting him in an effort to improve next year’s car. Flavio Briatore’s team is not in a good situation: at the moment, it sits last in the constructors’ standings with only 22 points, all collected by Pierre Gasly. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto remains on zero points. With the arrival of the new technical regulations next year, climbing back up the standings will be essential.
If Somerville were to join Alpine, he would reunite with Steve Nielsen, the current Managing Director, with whom he previously worked at the FIA. Nielsen left his former role in December 2023 and joined the French team in July 2025.
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