Aston Martin’s aerodynamics director Eric Blandin is set to leave his role at the Formula 1 team as part of a wider technical staffing reshuffle ahead of the 2026 season, The Race can reveal.
Blandin, who has previously held senior aero roles at Ferrari and Mercedes, joined Aston Martin originally as deputy technical director in 2022 under Dan Fallows.
Following a restructuring last winter by CEO Andy Cowell, which included Fallows’ departure, Blandin was moved into a new role as aerodynamics director from the start of this season.
The Race has learned that further staffing changes within the technical department are now being made, amid a refocus of the team’s priorities as it takes on board feedback from managing technical partner Adrian Newey and newly appointed chief technical officer Enrico Cardile.
It is understood that around seven senior figures involved in aerodynamics and car design are to leave their current roles with the Aston Martin F1 team, including Blandin and former chief designer Akio Haga.
Discussions are ongoing about whether or not these individuals take new positions within the wider Aston Martin group or pursue their careers elsewhere.
F1's cost cap rules strictly forbid personnel from having any involvement in F1 if they are to be put outside budget restrictions, so staff have to be moved fully off team operations.
When approached by The Race about the changes, Aston Martin explained it was not in a position to say anything.
“We don’t comment on internal staff matters and we don’t have anything to announce,” said a team spokesman.
Earlier this year, Aston Martin appointed a new chief aerodynamicist Gioacchino 'Jack' Vino, as well as luring one of Newey's former Red Bull lieutenants Giles Wood back to F1 as simulation and vehicle modelling director.
Newey pushing hard
As Newey has got to grips with the strengths and weaknesses of the Aston Martin organisation since joining in March, he has offered feedback on areas where he feels the team needs to make improvements – and where resources can be better focused.
Under the restrictions of F1's cost cap, where teams do not have unlimited spending, any push to expand areas – such as improved simulation capabilities – means that savings have to be made elsewhere.
Speaking earlier this year, team principal Cowell said Aston Martin was taking onboard Newey’s input in a bid to get itself in the best shape possible to hit the ground running for the start of the new rules era in 2026.
"We all knew and suspected which areas needed to be improved," said Cowell. "So we knew we needed to give things a nudge in a good direction. But we didn't know how much.
"Adrian has been able to do the gap analysis by providing the target point, and therefore then you know the journey that needs to be taken."
Cowell also talked about the need to ensure that the whole organisation was working together in the right way – and was fit for purpose based on the demands of current F1.
"There is the case that every department has grown over the last three or four years, so they've grown in capacity and toolset capability, but have they grown together as a team? I would question that," Cowell added.
"People use the word 'silos'. Have we got a silo mentality culture? I think there's more we can do to work together with a pure focus on [what] we're all here for: the race car.
"I think that's where having Adrian as one of the most experienced people in the paddock helps so much. So in terms of final decision making, there's a very clear final decision maker."
