F1 Rumor: AlphaTauri to hire Alan Permane

Autosport is reporting that former Alpine sporting director Alan Permane is set for a return to F1, with the AlphaTauri (Racing Bulls) team.

Permane spent 34-years in F1 but left Alpine last year when Otmar Szafnauer was also ousted.

“Alan Permane is one of the rocks of F1,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said. “He is one of the longest standing senior engineers in the sport, and certainly, someone with a lot of knowledge.

“I don’t know about the ins and outs of the management reshuffle there, but there is a lot of very respectable people in there. And definitely, you shouldn’t discount anyone of that seniority.”

“Whilst I’ve never worked with Alan Permane, I think sometimes there has to be respect shown for somebody that’s put in 34 years of hard graft and been involved in world championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso,” he said.

“He has also been a steady hand during periods of that team going into administration, and out of administration, and into different ownership and so on.

“He’s very much been a constant there during that period. I think that earns respect and recognition, and I’m sure he’s a guy, like with Otmar, that won’t find themselves out of work.

“It won’t be the last you’ve see of them in the pitlane, no doubt about that.”