The FIA's former head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville has begun his new role as deputy technical director at the Alpine Formula 1 team following an enforced period of gardening leave.

The veteran F1 aerodynamicist, who previously had spells at Williams, Toyota and Renault, had spent recent years providing input into technical regulations through his work at both F1 and the FIA.

He led aerodynamic research on the 2022 rules revamp that brought in the ground effect era, while more recently he had done a lot of work on framing the aerodynamic aspects of the 2026 regulatory overhaul.

In November last year, however, the FIA revealed that he was leaving his role there to take up a job at Alpine - although would be required to see out a full period of gardening leave.

With Somerville's enforced absence now finished, Alpine on Friday confirmed his arrival and detailed where he would fit in the company.

As deputy technical director, he will report into executive technical director David Sanchez.

The newly created role is designed to help enhance the input of Alpine's designer and aerodynamicists as the squad aims to get itself closer to the front of the grid.

Speaking about his appointment, which marks a return to Enstone for the first time since he worked under its Renault guise in 2010 and 2011, Somerville said: "I have been away from the competitive side of motorsport within a team environment for a few years now and I'm relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware."

While Somerville's arrival is a boost in terms of the technical input he can bring, there is also a wider significance in that it shows Alpine's ambitions in luring the best talent available.

Managing director Steve Nielsen said recently that Alpine should be able to capitalise on the momentum from its strong start to the season; Alpine is fifth in the constructors' championship and has scored more points in the first four races than it managed all of last year.

"It helps everybody in the factory, everybody in the team, and sponsors," said Nielsen.

"Everybody involved in the effort is, of course, buoyed by increased performance. It all starts with the car. The car starts improving. People believe in the project. Everything starts to get a bit easier. Better people want to come."

Sanchez said that Somerville's arrival was another step in a long journey Alpine faced to get to where it wanted to be.

"The work the team has already done this season has been extraordinary, but we all know that is just the beginning of the job and not one team member is resting on their laurels," he said.

"Adding Jason to our technical team will allow us to take even further steps to better our performance in the latest F1 development race."