Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer Thrown Out By Alpine
Photo by RoadandTrack.com
The Formula One team Alpine has confirmed the dismissal of Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer along with Sporting Director Alan Permane today. Meanwhile, Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry left to join the Williams Formula 1 Team.
This weekend is the Belgium Grand Prix where both Szafnauer and Permane will remain for this weekend’s Grand Prix. Bruno Famin, Alpine Motorsports Vice President will become interim Team Principal and Alpine Academy Director Julian Rouse has been named the interim Sporting Director.
Fry, who will be joining Williams in the same role in November will be replaced by the Technical Director, Matt Harman appears to be the only officer who left willingly.
The team made a statement saying "BWT Alpine F1 Team announces today it will part ways with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer by mutual agreement following the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix” and “Otmar will continue his duties as normal for this weekend's race in Belgium, before leaving the team ahead of the summer break. The team would like to thank Otmar for his hard work over the past 18 months and for leading the team in achieving fourth place in the 2022 Constructors' Championship. The team wishes him the best for the future.”
Continuing with "The team can also confirm it will part ways with Sporting Director Alan Permane by mutual agreement. Alan will also continue his role this weekend in Belgium before departing ahead of the summer break. After 34 distinguished years at Enstone, the team extends its thanks to Alan and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.” These exits come after multiple unlucky race weekends.