Research notes
Alan Permane joined the Benetton team in 1989 as a Test Electronics Engineer, spending 34 years at the same Enstone-based team (through its incarnations as Benetton, Renault, Lotus, and Alpine), rising from Electronics Engineer to Race Engineer, Chief Race Engineer, Chief Operating Officer, and for a long stretch, Sporting Director. After leaving in 2023, he joined Toro Rosso (Racing Bulls) in January 2024 as Racing Operations Director, and was promoted to Team Principal in July 2025.
Race engineering/operations background
A long tenure within the Enstone structure, a manager with deep experience in trackside operations and engineering execution.