Otmar Szafnauer lines up new job after Alpine axe and takes swipe at former team

30 July 2023 , 16:50

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Otmar Szafnauer is out the Alpine exit door after this weekend's Belgian GP (Image: Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Otmar Szafnauer hinted at his next job in Formula 1 before he had even completed his last day as Alpine team principal.

The 58-year-old is one of three high-profile figures leaving the Enstone team. Having been team principal for only 18 months, the Belgian Grand Prix was his last in charge.

It is understood there was a significant chasm between Szafnauer and the Renault board regarding short-term expectations. The outgoing team boss felt the expectations being placed upon him were unrealistic compared to the investment being put into the team.

So he is out of a job, with Bruno Famin taking over on an interim basis. Szafnauer has a period of gardening leave to observe, but hinted after the Belgium race that his next move is already lined up.

He told Sky Germany that he will be given the remit to make some of the changes he wanted to at Alpine, but was not given the chance. Szafnauer didn't, however, say which team he expects to join.

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Meanwhile, he took a swipe at his now former team in a separate interview with the broadcaster. Referencing those differences of opinion with the team's hierarchy, Szafnauer made a rather odd analogy as he explained the situation.

"The reality is that changes take time," he said. "I signed some good people from other teams, but they are still stuck in their contracts and won't come until 2024 or 2025.

Interim team principal Bruno Famin explained why Szafnauer will leave the team (Sky Sports)

"You can’t really push development if people aren't there. It takes time for people to come and it takes time for people to work together correctly. I always say, you can’t get nine women pregnant and hope you have a baby in a month."

His temporary replacement Famin explained the performance concern behind the decision to split with Szafnauer and long-serving sporting director Alan Permane. He said: "They are great people and we really thank them for all they brought to the team. It was a very long time for Alan, 34 years in Enstone, and more recently with Otmar.

"He secured fourth place in the championship last year, which was a good achievement. We were not on the same line in regard to the timeline to recover and to reach the level of performance we are aiming for. Mutually, we agreed to split our ways and that's it."

Daniel Moxon