Otmar Szafnauer shows true colours in Alpine parting message as new F1 role eyed

31 July 2023 , 10:57

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Otmar Szafnauer leaves Alpine after 18 months as team principal (Image: Getty Images)

Otmar Szafnauer showed his class with a message of concern for his former Alpine colleagues after he was shown the exit door.

The 58-year-old joined ahead of the 2022 season, having previously led Aston Martin. And his first year in charge was a success, guiding Alpine to a fourth-place finish in the constructors' championship.

But the Enstone squad has struggled more this season and sits sixth in the standings. Amid a difference in expectations between Szafnauer and the Renault hierarchy, the Belgian Grand Prix was his last as team principal.

After the race, he spent some time with staff in the motorhome and garage to say his goodbyes. And, on his way out of the paddock, he spoke to Motorsport.com about his exit.

"For me personally, I'll be alright and I'm fine," he said. "It's just my worry is for all the wonderful men and women at Enstone and Viry that work hard and do a good job. I hope their future is bright.

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"I was just getting into my stride, starting to know everybody, how to motivate them. You know, a high tide lifts all boats, and I was just getting to the point where I was raising the tide. There were people, not me so much, but people crying and saying goodbye. I told them, 'Look, I'm still alive, I didn't die! I'll be all right.'"

Szafnauer's departure comes amid a difference of opinion in regard to the team's short-term expectations. Renault bosses expect more, but the team principal was concerned that the expectations being placed upon him were not proportionate with the investment being put into the team.

He alluded to that as he spoke to Sky Germany about his exit. "The reality is that changes take time. I signed some good people from other teams, but they are still stuck in their contracts and won't come until 2024 or 2025," he explained.

"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."

Szafnauer now has a period of gardening leave to observe but also hinted that his next move is already lined up for when that is over. He said he will be given the remit to make some of the changes he wanted to at Alpine in that new role, but didn't say which team he expects to join."

Daniel Moxon