Mercedes aero chief signs for Aston Martin

Aston Martin has confirmed the signing of Mercedes chief aerodynamicist Eric Blandin.

After breaking ground on its new campus, Aston Martin has signed a number of high-profile personnel including head of technical operations Andrew Alessi and technical director Dan Fallows, both from Red Bull.

It is understood Blandin will be free to join up with Aston Martin from the end of 2022, with Mercedes to place him on gardening leave in due course.

An Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Eric Blandin will begin working for Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team next year.

"His exact start date is not yet confirmed. The transition from Mercedes AMG F1 Team to ourselves will be an amicable one.”

Blandin began his career as an aerodynamicist at Fondmetal in 1998 before joining Jaguar in 2004 where he remained as the team became Red Bull in 2004.

Having lead the Red Bull aero team better 2005-'09 Blandin moved to Ferrari for a year before linking up with Mercedes in 2011.

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has been forthcoming with his ambition to take the team forward, claiming the new factory will be unlike anything seen before in F1 and aiming to become world champions within three-five years.

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