Dirk de Beer is a South African

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

aerodynamicist. He is currently the head of aerodynamics at the

Alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...

team.

Biography

De Beer joined

Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...

in 2008, where he worked under Dino Toso until the latter was forced to stand down because of illness. He was head of aerodynamics at the Enstone team from 2008 to 2013. He remained in his post as the team became

Lotus F1 Lotus F1 Team was a British Formula One racing team. The team competed under the Lotus name from until , following the renaming of the former Renault team based at Enstone in Oxfordshire. The Lotus F1 Team was majority owned by Genii Capital. ...

from 2012, working with technical directors Bob Bell and James Allison. He left the British team in 2013 to take on the role of aerodynamics chief at

Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...

, following James Allison who had previously switched from Lotus to the Italian team. De Beer then left Ferrari in 2016 and was replaced by David Sanchez after the departure of Allison. He joined the Williams team in 2017, taking up the head of aero position as at the start of March. At Williams, he worked alongside Dave Wheater, who was temporarily responsible for the team's aerodynamic performance after Jason Somerville's departure in late 2016. He started working for the British team on 1 March 2017. After a season start considered below expectations, the Williams team announced his resignation on 30 May 2018. In early November 2019, Renault announced that de Beer would replace Pete Machin as Head of Aerodynamics.

Career timeline

* Principal aerodynamicist – Sauber (2002–2005) * Head of aerodynamics –

(2008–2011) * Head of aerodynamics –

(2012–2013) * Chief aerodynamicist –

(2013–2016) * Head of aerodynamics – Williams (2017–2018) * Head of aerodynamics –

(2019–2020) * Head of aerodynamics -

Alpine F1 Alpine F1 Team, competing as BWT Alpine F1 Team, is a Formula One constructor which made its debut at the start of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. Formerly named Renault F1 Team and owned by the French automotive company Groupe Renault ...

(2021-)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:de Beer, Dirk Aerodynamicists South African motorsport people White South African people Formula One people Ferrari people Renault people Living people 1963 births Williams Grand Prix Engineering