peewon wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 2:37 am
diffuser wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:41 pm
So far they're right around expectations.
Expectations have been tempered because everyone assumes that their resources are dedicated towards next year. But Im wouldn't be very optimistic about 2022 either for a few reasons:
1. Mclaren, which is a similar sized team, has shown consistent progress since the joining of Andreas Seidl and left Renault/Alpine behind by miles. I doubt they're heavily sacrificing their future development either.
2. Ricciardo leaving a works team after having close experience with the setup for 2 seasons.
3. I wont claim to be an expert on F1 staff credentials or salaries but Dirk De Beer's resume is not very impressive as an aerodynamicist despite vast experience and based on past performance, relying on him to lead the team into a new era of aero regulations seems like a low percentage (cheap) gamble.
Dirk de Beer does have a pretty impressive resume being Head of Aero at Enstone from 2008-2013 producing great cars aerodynamically. In all fairness Lotus did have 3 most senior Aero guys who are now at Mercedes (Allison, Elliott, Murphy) but I think that De Beer was highly rated within the team. He hasn't actually properly designed the aero on one of the Alpine's as he came in December 2019 by which point the aero on the 2020 car had finished. If anything Ferrari's new Head of Aero Diego Tondi has the least impressive resume out of all Head of Aero's on the grid.
Mercedes-Jarrod Murphy ex Lotus Renault Head of CFD (2006-2013)
Red Bull-Dan Fallows moving to AM to become Technical Director
McLaren-Tony Salter Deputy Head of Aero at Sauber (2011-14) when they produced impressive cars on low budget
Ferrari-Diego Tondi Remained at Ferrari has whole career
Aston Martin-Simon Phillips Long time employee (1996-) who again has produced impressive cars on low budget
Alfa Romeo-Alex Cinelli ex Ferrari (2002-2017) in which he was head of aero performance, imperial graduate
Williams-Dave Wheater ex Deputy Head of Aero Lotus Renault (2006-2013)