Resta joined Alfa a year ago when it was inducted into F1 as Sauber after establishing itself as a key part of the Ferrari design team.
Leading the technical department at Sauber / Alfa gave Resta more responsibility and experience, but was not expected to be a long-term appointment.
Alfa has now announced that Resta will be leaving the team at the end of July. The current head of aerodynamics, Jan Monchaux, has been promoted to technical director in his place. There was no mention of Resta’s future and there was no announcement from Ferrari, but it is assumed that he will be returning to the Maranello team.
Due to gardening vacation requirements, he will not be included in F1 operations this season, but may be in Ferrari’s road vehicle business before the end of 2019.
The F1 role Resta will take on is unknown. Before that, he worked as a Ferrari manager for the coordination of vehicle projects and performed the duties of chief designer.
Ferrari’s setup is very different from when Resta left the team and his duties were taken over by his deputy Fabio Montecchi, chief aerodynamicist David Sanchez and former Ferrari GT aero man Enrico Cardile.
Former Technical Director Mattia Binotto is now Ferrari Team Principal and his previous position has not been directly replaced which could allow Resta to take on senior technical roles. Sanchez and drivetrain head Corrado Iotti are currently supporting Binotto on the technical side at the plant.
When rumors surfaced that Resta would be returning to the team after Ferrari’s difficult start to the season, Binotto admitted that “we will rate him back at some point”.
Alfa team principal Frederic Vasseur thanked Resta for the role he played in his rapid progress from the back of the F1 grid to a regular points team.
Jan Monchaux, Head of Aerodynamics, Alfa Romeo Racing
Photo by: Sauber F1 Team
In the meantime, Monchaux’s successor from Resta at Alfa is a natural step for the ex-Ferrari and Toyota F1 aerodynamicist.
Like Resta, he joined in 2018 when the team operated under the Sauber name and became Head of Aviation after taking on the role at Audi for the LMP1 program.
“I would like to thank Simone for his contribution to the development of the team and wish him all the best in his future appointments,” said Vasseur. “Jan is very pleased that he has taken on the role of technical director.
“He has done an excellent job so far and I am confident that he can lead our technical group if the team continues on its upward trend.”
Monchaux added: “The owners, the board of directors and the team principal are sending a simple but powerful message to the entire company. You value continuity and believe in the existing team and the work we have done. Now it’s up to us to agree with them, but I believe our future is bright. “
