P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Former Alpine Formula 1 boss Otmar Szafnauer has accused the team of being “naïve” regarding its timeline for success after
Szafnauer was hired as the Team Principal of Alpine ahead of the 2022 season and led the team to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship in his first year. Despite consistent efforts since rejoining Formula 1 in 2016, Renault/Alpine has been unable to surpass fourth place and has only achieved one victory. Szafnauer believes that he was not given enough time to implement the changes needed for success, as he was promised 100 races to turn the team around. He claims that Alpine was heading in the right direction under his leadership and had received internal praise for his management style. Prior to his arrival, Alpine lacked a separate group focused on aerodynamic performance, but Szafnauer had started hiring new people and restructuring the team before being removed. He emphasizes that achieving success in Formula 1 takes time and references Aston Martin as an example, stating that it took several years for the team to become a podium contender after Lawrence Stroll’s takeover.
