Trouble for Honda as Senior Aerodynamicist exits

By Phil Huff
November 3 2006

Honda Racing F1's plans for a title attack in 2007 have suffered a setback, with the loss of the teams senior aerodynamicist, Simon Lacey.

Lacey, who has been with the team for a number of years, has left the Brackley squad to join McLaren, taking on the role of Chief Aerodynamicist.

This leaves just Mariano Alperin-Bruvera in charge of the aero package at Honda. Whilst the team has a strong history of promoting from within, the loss of such a key figure is bound to cause some alarm, especially when combined with the high profile loss of Geoff Willis earlier in the year.

It's understood that Lacey's deal to move to McLaren was made within days of Willis' removal from the team.

Alperin-Bruvera joined the team at its inception in 1998 as a senior aerodynamicist. He was promoted to Chief Aerodynamicist in May of this year, looking after the new wind tunnel. It is now expected that his role will be widened to fill the void left by Simon's exit.