Fernando Alonso tells Otmar Szafnauer to 'be quiet' in furious swipe at ex-boss

02 August 2023 , 14:41

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Fernando Alonso is much happier nowadays with Aston Martin (Image: Hasan Bratic/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Fernando Alonso told former boss Otmar Szafnauer to "not talk at all" in a furious swipe over the way he felt he was treated in his final season with Alpine.

The Spaniard raced under Szafnauer in the 2022 campaign. Overall it was a successful one for the team, which finished fourth in the constructors' standings ahead of midfield rivals McLaren.

But, off the track, there was plenty of discord. And that was true long before the Enstone squad lost their prized junior driver Oscar Piastri to McLaren, after Alonso had confirmed his plan to leave for Aston Martin.

The Spaniard decided to leave as his new employer was offering a multi-year deal, while Alpine were hesitant to offer him anything longer than a 12-month extension, following his 41st birthday.

Speaking to the BBC, Alonso shared his frustration over how long his former team was taking. "I don't think I felt disrespected, but it is true it took longer than I thought when we started conversations," he explained.

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"I think it was in Australia back in [April] 2022 about renewing the contract. It was just on a very slow pace, and it was not from my side. I was just ready and happy. The 2022 car was a fast car so I was also happy with the performance and the possibilities into the future.

"So that slow pace of conversations and eventually not even putting on paper what we were writing and all these comments about the age and whatever, which they are still doing.

"It is the way they do things, or the way Otmar does things. Because after this year, he should be quiet. He should not talk at all. After the results of Aston Martin and the results he's achieving, he's still talking and still proud of the decision, which is incredible, amazing."

Those performances Alonso was comparing do paint the picture that he is much better off with his new team. Aston Martin sit third in the constructors' standings this season with 196 points – he scored 149 of them – while Alpine are down in sixth with just 57 so far.

Alonso went on to add that he felt a little insulted by his old team's reluctance to offer a long-term contract and feels extra motivated to prove them wrong. He added: "When you are doing the best you can every weekend, when I did so many things for Renault as well, you take a little bit personal when someone is doubting your performance or your age or these kinds of things.

"And you just want to prove even extra hard that you are in the best moment of your career. The results, they speak for themselves, and that's the best way."

Daniel Moxon