Jason Somerville, one of the people who knows the 2026 regulations inside out, is leaving the FIA to join a Formula 1 team. The aerodynamicist’s move has shaken the paddock and sparked speculation among rival teams.
It is a move as unexpected as it is significant. Jason Somerville, until now the FIA’s Chief Aerodynamicist and a key figure in shaping the 2026 technical regulations, has left the Federation and will join a Formula 1 team. Autoracer.it confirmed the agreement, with Jason Somerville set to start in May 2026, following the six-month ‘gardening leave’ required for outgoing FIA staff.
The paddock is already buzzing. The news is massive considering the sensitivity of his role: Jason Somerville has seen it all—from simulations to extreme design concepts to the aerodynamic leeway teams have attempted to exploit.
Why Somerville is so crucial for the 2026 era
The British engineer had privileged access to every stage of the new regulations, which will introduce active front and rear wings, a 50/50 energy split between internal combustion and electric power, completely new fuels, and the return of the flat floor.
He knows not only the rules but also the most aggressive interpretations that teams have tried to push or test during technical meetings. This is why his departure raises many questions among the teams.
The FIA has already appointed a successor: Sean Cartmale, now the direct liaison for the teams and the link with the group led by Nikolas Tombazis.
Is Ferrari a possibility?
Jason Somerville’s exit naturally fueled rumors about a potential move to Ferrari, especially as the team accelerates development on the 2026 car, Project 678.
Sources within Maranello report a calm environment, helped by the new working method introduced by Loïc Serra and Fred Vasseur, focusing on greater compartmentalization between departments, less cross-sharing, and more independent aerodynamic development.
Ferrari, therefore, was not worried about an “external strike,” but remains cautious: Somerville is one of the very few people who knows the complete technical landscape for 2026.
Somerville’s final decision
In the end, Somerville will not join Maranello. Instead, he will enter the Cadillac F1 structure, the new American project set to compete with its own team in 2026 and fully contend at the top in 2027.
The news leaves many teams stunned: Cadillac can start with a massive advantage. With someone of Somerville’s expertise, several learning steps could be skipped. Clearly, this has rival teams raising eyebrows, particularly given the timing of the announcement.
The technical personnel market, already hot, now explodes just months away from the most revolutionary era Formula 1 has seen in decades.
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