Staff exodus begins

By Phil Huff
August 7 2007

As RealHondaF1.com have been saying for some time now, there appears to be the start of a mass exodus from the Honda Racing F1 team, as disgruntled staff leave the Brackley team to head for roles elsewhere along the pitlane, with rivals Red Bull and BMW-Sauber set to gain.

First out will be Paul Field, the Composite Production Manager. It's widely recognised that Honda Racing F1 have the best carbon shop in the business, and the loss of a skilled man such as Field will be felt, as will the loss of Operations Manager Gary Savage. Previously responsible for composite team, Savage was in charge of the ill-fated Bonneville 400 project, and will leave a significant hole in Honda's structure.

Both men, good friends of Geoff Willis, are said to be heading to Red Bull Racing, where Willis has recently taken up the role of Technical Director at the Milton Keynes based team.

Chief Aerodynamicist Mariano Alperin-Bruvera is also said to be on the move, replacing the Honda bound Jorg Zander at BMW-Sauber. Alperin-Bruvera will be teaming up with Willem Toet who had previously left Honda in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

Our good friends at Pitpass.com are also reporting that Nick Fry has extended his contract with the team, albeit on a rolling three month basis.