David Sanchez (engineer)
David Sanchez | |
---|---|
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Engineer |
Known for | Formula One engineer |
David Sanchez is a French Formula One engineer. He has been employed by the Renault, Ferrari and McLaren F1 teams.[1] He currently serves as Executive Technical Director at Alpine.
Career
[edit]After graduating from the École nationale supérieure de mécanique et d'aérotechnique Sanchez started his motorsport career working as an aerodynamicist for the Renault F1 team as a junior aerodynamicist in 2005.[2] He moved to McLaren Racing in 2007 initially as a senior aerodynamicist before progressing onto becoming an aerodynamics team leader being a part of the team that developed the innovative F-Duct seen in the McLaren MP4-25.[3] Seeking a new challenge Sanchez decided to join Ferrari in October 2012 as a Principle Aerodynamicist, later replacing the departing Dirk de Beer as chief aerodynamicist in 2016 before heading up the entire department in 2019.[4] In 2021 Sanchez was promoted again to chief engineer, vehicle concept, leading the design and development of the 2022 Ferrari car.[5]
Sanchez left Ferrari in March 2023 and entered a period of gardening leave, before returning to McLaren as technical director of car concept and performance, effective 2024, replacing James Key.[6]
He left McLaren by mutual consent on 2 April 2024, as the role he had envisioned was "not aligned with the reality of the position".[7]
On 2 May 2024, Alpine F1 Team announced his appointment as Executive Technical Director.
References
[edit]- ^ "Key out, Sanchez in as McLaren restructures F1 team". www.autosport.com. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Conférence Ferrari F1 contre le cancer 2016". ISAE-ENSMA officiel.
- ^ "THE UNKNOWN VISIONARY LEADING FERRARI OUT OF F1 TURMOIL". therace.com. 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Ferrari appoints new chief aerodynamicist". f1i. 12 August 2016.
- ^ "Ferrari complete technical reorganisation ahead of 2021 season". F1.com.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (23 March 2023). "Key out, Sanchez in as McLaren restructures F1 team". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "McLaren Formula 1 Team announces organisational updates". www.mclaren.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.