Robert Charles Bell(born 10 April 1958) is a Formula One engineer and technical director, best known for his work with theRenaultFormula Oneteam. He is currently the Executive Director - Technical for theAston Martin F1 Team.[1]
Bob Bell | |
|---|---|
 Bell (third from left) on the podium at the2005 San Marino Grand Prix | |
| Born | 10 April 1958 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Years active | 1982–2024 |
| Employer | Aston Martin F1 Team |
| Known for | Formula Oneaerodynamicist |
| Spouse | Nicola Bell |
| Children | 2 |
Career
editBell attendedQueen's University in Belfast,gaining a doctorate in Aeronautical Engineering.[2]before joiningMcLarenin 1982 and worked as the company aerodynamicist until 1988, when he was promoted to head of research and development for the next two years.[3]In 1997, Bell moved to theBenetton Formulateam, working there withNick Wirth.[4]
He worked as the Senior Aerodynamicist at Benetton until 1999, when he went to theJordan Grand Prixteam joining them as the head of vehicle technology, after being invited by his formerMcLarencolleagueMike Gascoyne.Both left Jordan forRenault F1and in 2001, Bell was appointed the deputy technical director at the Enstone team,[5]becoming the technical director in 2003 whenMike Gascoynedeparted to join theToyota F1team.[6][7]
Bell was Renault F1's technical director during the hugely successful 2005 and 2006 seasons, in which hisR25andR26won both the Drivers' and the Constructor's championships. The next two seasons saw very few good results, and his projects dropped in the Constructor's championship to fourth place in 2007 and 2008.
After the resignations ofFlavio BriatoreandPat Symondsin relation to theRenault Formula One crash controversy,Bell was appointed acting team principal for the rest of 2009, on 23 September 2009.[8]For the 2010 season, Bell held the position of managing director for the Renault team until leaving the team on 6 October 2010.[9] On 18 February 2011, Bell was appointed as the new technical director ofMercedes GP,effective of 1 April 2011. On 14 April 2014, Mercedes announced that Bell had resigned his position in December 2013 and would be leaving the team in November 2014.[10]
Prior to the 2015Canadian Grand Prix,Manor Marussiaannounced the recruitment of Bell as technical consultant.[11]
On 3 February 2016, Bell was announced as the chief technical officer at the newly created Renault Sport F1 Team, with theRenault R.S.16car. He worked at the Renault team for two years, before stepping away from the team in 2018, becoming a part-time advisor. This came after a 36-year career in Formula One.[12][13]
On 6 March 2024, Bell was announced as Executive Director - Technical of Aston Martin F1 Team.[14]
References
edit- ^"Bell joins Aston Martin as Executive Director from Alpine".
- ^Saward, Joe (12 July 2006)."Bob Bell - the art of winning".GrandPrix.Inside F1, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved3 November2008.
- ^"Bob Bell moves into the spotlight".GrandPrix.Inside F1, Inc. 16 October 2003.
- ^"People: Bob Bell".GrandPrix.Inside F1, Inc.
- ^"Renault Sport grabs Bell".GrandPrix.Inside F1, Inc. 25 October 2001.
- ^"Renault confirms Bell".GrandPrix.Inside F1, Inc. 15 October 2003.
- ^"Renault announce Bell as Technical Director".Formula1.Formula One Administration Ltd. 15 October 2003.
- ^Noble, Jonathan (23 September 2009)."Bell to be Renault Boss for rest of '09".autosport.Haymarket Publications.Retrieved23 September2009.
- ^Noble, Jonathan (6 October 2010)."Bell leaves Renault team".autosport.Haymarket Publications.Retrieved6 October2010.
- ^"Bob Bell to depart Mercedes AMG Petronas".Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. 14 April 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2016.Retrieved11 September2014.
- ^Parkes, Ian (1 June 2015)."Manor F1 team recruits ex-Mercedes technical director Bob Bell".Autosport.Retrieved5 June2015.
- ^"Renault technical chief Bell to step down".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"Who is Bob Bell, Renault's newly named technical advisor?".Motor Sport Magazine.31 July 2018.Retrieved22 August2020.
- ^"Bell joins Aston Martin as Executive Director from Alpine".
External links
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