- By Andrew Benson
- Chief F1 writer
59 minutes ago
image source, Dan Istitene – Formula 1
image description,
Alan Permane has moved to Racing Bulls after leaving Renault last year
Red Bull's junior team has made three key senior appointments to improve its competitiveness heading into the 2024 season.
The team, which changed its name to RB (short for Racing Bulls) last week, has hired former McLaren technical director Tim Goss as chief technical officer.
And Alan Permane, who was sacked by Renault last year, will be responsible for technical operations at races as race director.
Guillaume Catellani joins from Red Bull's senior team as deputy technical director.
Goss, who stepped down from his position as technical director of the governing body FIA earlier this month, will take over the team's technical leadership and report to new team boss Laurent Mekies, who joined from Ferrari last year.
Mekies said: “The appointments of Tim, Guillaume and Alan add tremendous winning ability to the team and I have no doubt they will help take the team to the next level in Formula 1.”
“We already have a very strong and highly experienced group in the team and bringing in highly qualified individuals such as Tim, Guillaume and Alan will increase our capabilities and help us meet the highest technical standards, both at the factory and on track.”
Goss spent 28 years at McLaren until he lost his job in 2018 when the team went through a restructuring following a decline in performance.
He said: “There is an exciting challenge ahead of us, but I think the team is well equipped to take on the challenge.”
The 60-year-old will lead the team's technical department and will oversee technical director Jody Eggington, followed by Catellani.
Permane had worked at Renault in various guises for 34 years when he fell victim to a management reshuffle midway through last season that also saw team boss Otmar Szafanauer lose his job and technical boss Pat Fry opt to move to Williams.
The move by Permane, a widely respected figure in Formula 1, amounts to a promotion from his previous position at Renault.
He said: “After a few months off it’s great to be racing again.”
“From many years of experience, I know how professional, motivated and competitive the people on this racing team are, and I can’t wait to see where that spirit can take the team in the future.”
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