Former Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has been confirmed as Alpine’s new team principal.
The widely rumoured move was finally confirmed by Alpine as part of a restructuring of the team’s management system which the team announced todayAlongside Szafnauer’s arrival, Bruno Famin – previously the FIA’s deputy secretary general for sport – will join the team as executive director of Alpine Racing, based at the team’s Renault power unit factory in Viry Chatillon. Both will report directly to Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, who has overseen the team’s Formula 1 programme since Renault was rebranded for the 2021 season.
Davide Brivio, who joined Alpine from Moto GP team Suzuki in 2021, has also been named Alpine’s director of racing expansion projects to oversee the brand’s programmes across all international motorsport series, such as Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship, as well as the Alpine Academy.
Szafnauer, who was previously team principal at Racing Point before their transition to Aston Martin last season, departed the Silverstone-based squad in early January. He says he aims to help Alpine achieve their aim of winning a world championship title within 100 grands prix of their rebranding.
“I am thrilled to join Alpine F1 team and ready to get to work with everyone to achieve our challenge: bring the team to fight for the championship within the next 100 races,” Szafnauer said “My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of the three car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, Alpine is fully armed to achieve its ambition, I can’t wait to start the journey.”
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said that the team had now ‘completed’ its management line up with the announced restructure.
“With Otmar and Bruno joining the team, we move to a new level for 2022,” Rossi said. “Otmar will bring his unique experience in motorsports and his uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technologies that make a difference in competition and their subsequent transference to road cars is critical for our project as a sports team and as a brand.
“Over the past year I have seen Davide’s talent to identify the best in people, and to make them perform as well as they can. I am delighted to utilise this unique skill across all existing Alpine assets and new ones we are just starting to explore. Our band of racers is complete and ready to bring the team towards its ambitious objectives in 2022.”
Alpine are due to unveil their 2022 car on Monday, before Wednesday’s opening test in Barcelona. The team retain their driver pairing of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon from last season, in which they finished fifth in the constructors’ championship after taking a race victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2022 F1 season
- Mercedes told me “you’re wrong” about 2022 car’s problems – Hamilton
- FIA confirms all 10 F1 teams complied with 2022 cost cap
- Steiner “not ashamed” of panning “slow” Schumacher in Drive to Survive
- Albon believes year out of F1 improved him as a driver
- Hamilton sees diversity gains in F1 years on from his ‘traumatising’ experience of racism
erikje
17th February 2022, 16:28
What a surprise….who would have thought that..
But there is a lot he can improve in the Renault/Alpine team.
I hope his vision on reality will improve.. his lies to cover for stroll were embarrassing to say the least,
slowmo (@slowmo)
17th February 2022, 17:22
In his defence, it’s a bit hard to be critical of your bosses son who is clearly blind to his sons performances.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
18th February 2022, 1:14
Ahah, I have to say you (as in not only you, but many of the f1 fanatic readers) are good at predicting things, I read many times in the comment section that after leaving racing point he’d have gone to alpine and look at the case!
RandomMallard
17th February 2022, 17:17
Wow. I’m in shock. This was totally unexpected. Never saw this coming.
OOliver
17th February 2022, 19:23
I myself didn’t see this coming even though it had been right in front of me and coming in my direction.
MacLeod (@macleod)
18th February 2022, 7:51
Too bad the bookie didn’t took my bet on where he would end up! But this was a total surprise!
Jere (@jerejj)
17th February 2022, 17:57
Finally, I thought he wouldn’t join Alpine anymore, given how seemingly long ago his AM departure became official.
Qeki (@qeki)
17th February 2022, 20:53
All the news in one day. What’s next? Bernie to come back?
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
18th February 2022, 0:44
Quite possibly the first positive thing I’ve seen from Renault/Alpine for years.
BaKano (@bakano)
18th February 2022, 8:38
I’m not a fan of Szafnauer. Let’s see if he proves me wrong.
Dex
18th February 2022, 10:24
I think he is a good man manager. I doubt he could get on with Lance Stroll looking over his shoulder all the time.
Ancient1 (@ancient1)
18th February 2022, 11:27
I trust he can get on with Aussies better than that other ‘person’.