P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Otmar Szafnauer has revealed that he knew his time with Alpine’s F1 team would be “problematic” when he was given less control than promised.
Szafnauer was appointed as Alpine’s Team Principal in 2022 and had a promising debut campaign, finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. However, the team struggled in the second term under F1’s current rules, falling behind Aston Martin and McLaren. Despite a podium in Monaco by Esteban Ocon, Szafnauer was ousted in July 2023. He criticized Alpine for lacking the necessary understanding to succeed in the sport. Szafnauer acknowledged that he faced challenges due to not having control over key departments within the team. Since his departure, Alpine has continued to face turmoil, with a sharp decline leading to a ninth-place position in the championship. Bruno Famin stepped down, allowing Oliver Oakes to take over, while the team decided to stop Renault’s engine production from 2025. Szafnauer believes his management was not the reason for Alpine’s struggles and that sometimes taking a step back can lead to greater progress in the future.
