Data, Drive, and Determination: Annalisa Aicardi’s engineering journey

The constant pursuit of lap time never stops. Whether based trackside or at Enstone’s Remote Operations Centre, our team of engineers are constantly analysing data to find those fractions of a second that can make all the difference in qualifying and on race day.

One of the brains behind the numbers is Annalisa Aicardi, Race Support Engineer for the BWT Alpine Formula One Team. Based in Race Engineering, with oversight of Vehicle Performance, it’s her job to provide detailed analysis - whether that’s driver performance, car setup, or data comparisons between our two cars - to support decision-making both at the track and back at the factory.

“One key aspect of what I do is helping both sides of the garage to have a clearer picture of what’s happening across both cars,” says Annalisa. “So that’s spotting limitations, sharing learnings, and feeding back to optimise setup and performance. I also offer feedback to the drivers, such as suggestions on racing lines or other areas for improvement.

“There’s also collaboration with other departments - for example, I work closely with the pit stop crew. That involves gathering feedback from mechanics and operations to help improve efficiency, and passing that on to the drivers. It’s all about connecting the dots between people and performance.”

Annalisa’s journey with Alpine started three years ago when she moved to the Cotswolds from her native Italy. Prior to that, she had studied mechanical engineering at university, as physics was one of her favourite subjects growing up. “As a child, I was always fascinated by how things work - from nature and animals to machines and science. That curiosity drove me towards studying scientific subjects at school. Mechanical engineering felt like the practical application of it - so it was a natural fit.”

During her Master’s degree, she specialised in high-performance road car design, which led to a job with a European Le Mans Series sports car team. Working with the crew, she immediately fell in love with the trackside environment and knew she wanted to devote her career to motorsport. After a university placement at Toro Rosso, Annalisa moved to Alpine and initially joined the Vehicle Performance Group.

“My early work here was largely based around simulations - running batches to support pre-event preparation. I focused quite a bit on brake performance and worked on the dyno to support development in that area,” says Annalisa. “I was also regularly in the Remote Garage, or as we call it, the Operations Room, supporting the race team from the factory.”

Over the past two years she’s attended testing, in addition to the first six races of this season, offering engineering support to both cars - and Annalisa has advice for any young women who want to work in the industry. “My advice is simple - follow your dreams. Choose the university or course that suits your interests, get involved in hands-on projects related to the field, and don’t be afraid to go after what you want - even if you don’t always feel fully supported.

“I’ve been lucky to have a strong support system with my family, but I know that’s not the case for everyone. That’s why it’s so important to share these stories and send a message to young women that engineering is for them too.”