David Sanchez (engineer)
{{short description|French engineer}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{use British English|date=December 2021}}
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David Sanchez is a French Formula One engineer. He has been employed by the Renault, Ferrari, and McLaren Formula One teams. As of 2024, he serves as Executive Technical Director at Alpine.
Career
After graduating from the École nationale supérieure de mécanique et d'aérotechnique, Sanchez started his motorsport career working as an aerodynamicist for the Renault Formula One team as a junior aerodynamicist in 2005.{{cite web |date=13 June 2016 |title=Conférence Ferrari F1 contre le cancer 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dp_xTfvJ-Q |access-date=10 September 2024 |publisher=ISAE-ENSMA officiel |language=fr |via=YouTube}} He moved to McLaren 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.{{cite web |last=Freeman |first=Glenn |date=12 May 2021 |title=The Unknown Visionary Leading Ferrari Out Of F1 Turmoil |url=https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-unknown-visionary-leading-ferrari-out-of-f1-turmoil/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=The Race}}
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.{{cite web |last=Lewin |first=Andrew |date=12 August 2016 |title=Ferrari appoints new chief aerodynamicist |url=https://f1i.com/news/67522-ferrari-appoints-new-chief-aerodynamicist.html |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=F1i.com}} In 2021, Sanchez was promoted again to chief engineer, vehicle concept, leading the design, and development of the 2022 Ferrari car.{{cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=Ferrari complete technical reorganisation ahead of 2021 season |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari-complete-technical-reorganisation-ahead-of-2021-season.4av3qKSQJbQovMwGn69cmK.html |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=Formula1.com}}
Sanchez left Ferrari in March 2023,{{cite web |last=Noble |first=Jonathan |date=23 March 2023 |title=Key out, Sanchez in as McLaren restructures F1 team |url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/key-out-sanchez-in-as-mclaren-restructures-f1-team/10447548/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=Autosport}} and entered a period of gardening leave, before returning to McLaren as technical director of car concept and performance, effective 2024, replacing James Key.{{cite web |last=Noble |first=Jonathan |date=23 March 2024 |title=Key out, Sanchez in as McLaren restructures F1 team |url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/key-out-sanchez-in-as-mclaren-restructures-f1-team/10447549/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=Motorsport.com}} 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".{{cite web |date=2 April 2024 |title=McLaren Formula 1 Team announces organisational updates |url=https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2024/mclaren-formula-1-team-announces-organisational-updates/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=McLaren.com}} On 2 May 2024, Alpine announced his appointment as Executive Technical Director.{{cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Sanchez joins Alpine as technical head after leaving McLaren |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/formula1/sanchez-joins-alpine-technical-head-after-leaving-mclaren-2024-05-02/ |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=Reuters}}{{cite web |date=2 May 2024 |title=Alpine appoint David Sanchez as executive technical director |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c3gqe64l6reo |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=BBC Sport}}{{cite web |last=Mee |first=Lydia |date=2 May 2024 |title=F1 News: Alpine Signs New Executive Technical Director After Shock McLaren Exit |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/f1-news-alpine-signs-new-executive-technical-director-after-shock-mclaren-exit-lm22 |access-date=10 September 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Scuderia Ferrari}}
{{McLaren}}
{{Alpine F1}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, David}}
Category:French motorsport people