Alpine isn’t having a great season and to reflect that many people have lost their jobs. Their CEO, Laurent Rossi, lost his position as well as team principal, Otmar Szafnauer, who left after a “mutual agreement” was reached.
It doesn’t stop there as sporting director, Alan Permane, is also departing alongside chief technical officer, Pat Fry, who will be departing for the same position at Williams.
Bruno Famin, Alpine’s vice president of motorsport and now acting team principal, explained that the reason for these high profile layoffs was a difference in opinion in regard to what was deemed necessary to improve the team’s standing.
“We were not on the same line, on the timeline to recover the performance we are aiming for,” Famin said. “And mutually we agreed to split our ways. And that’s it.”
Szafnauer didn’t go as far to criticise the decision, but argued that Alpine hadn’t given him enough time to improve things.
“The reality is that changes take time,” Szafnauer said to Sky Deutschland. “I signed some good people from other teams, but they are still stuck in their contracts and won’t come until 2024 or 2025.
“You can’t really push development if people aren’t there. It takes time for people to come and it takes time for people to work together correctly.
“I always say, you can’t get nine women pregnant and hope you have a baby in a month.”
The CEO role has already been filled by former Alfa Romeo technical director and Ferrari engineering boss, Philippe Krief. There has been no word who will replace Szafnauer in the long-term.
