Nielsen to rejoin Alpine as managing director

Alpine has announced the return of Steve Nielsen as the team’s new managing director, starting work on Sept. 1.

Nielsen will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the team’s headquarters at Enstone – where he previously worked as sporting director during its 2005 and 2006 world championship-winning years – and joins from Formula 1 management. Nielsen has also previously had a spell at the FIA, ensuring he brings wide-ranging experience to the role at a team that currently doesn’t have a team principal.

The arrival of Nielsen – to work under executive director Flavio Briatore (pictured at right, above, with Nielsen) – is one of a number of key hires announced ahead of the British Grand Prix, with two in particular highlighted by the team. Another returning name is Kris Midgely, who will become head of aerodynamic development, joining from Ferrari having previously been at what Enstone under its former guises of Renault and Lotus from 2007 until 2013.

Alpine says the arrival of Midgely is “bolstering the technical department ahead of the vast opportunities that present themselves for the new regulation era in 2026,” while it has also strengthened its marketing department with the appointment of Guy Martin as global marketing director.

The appointments are the first new hires confirmed by Alpine since the surprise departure of former team principal Oliver Oakes following the Miami Grand Prix in May. The team is currently bottom of the constructors’ championship, 15 points adrift of Sauber in ninth.