P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ex-Lotus Formula 1 development driver Carmen Jorda will return to the Enstone team as Alpine’s head of F1 Academy.
Carmen Jorda, a former Lotus Formula 1 development driver, will return to the Enstone team as Alpine’s head of F1 Academy. Alpine’s renewal of its commercial partnership with Qatar Airways includes Jorda leading female driver mentorship initiatives, supporting Alpine’s F1 Academy entry in 2026. Jorda previously joined Lotus F1 in 2015 as a development driver after three point-less seasons in GP3. Despite controversies around her appointment due to lack of junior ladder success, Jorda worked with Enstone’s simulator but never got to drive an F1 car before leaving in 2016. Jorda’s return to Alpine involves commercial responsibilities with Qatar Airways and mentoring F1 Academy drivers, emphasizing fan experiences and airline commitment to empowerment. Jorda’s role follows a trend among F1 teams employing female drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Jessica Hawkins, and Alice Powell for mentoring and support programs within their academies.
