Piastri, Alonso: Szafnauer looks back on the eventful week ofAlpine

Since this 1^er august, Alpine had a very complicated week. If until 10 a.m. Monday it had 3 pilots under contract, in less than 48 hours, the French team learned by surprise the departure of Fernando Alonsothen the refusal of Oscar Piastri to evolve with them in 2023. For the moment, the file Piastres is still under legal consideration to determine whether the Australian has the right to leave the ship. But no matter, the damage is done and the Blues have recorded a double snub. So if Alpine has no longer communicated on Twitter since the announcement of his pilot duo on Tuesday, Otmar Szafnauer took the floor to return to these events in the columns ofThe Confidential.

« It was the first time I experienced something like that, that's for sure, explains Otmar Szafnauer. But I'm not completely surprised, because I've experienced other situations and stories from both sides, from the drivers' side and from the teams' side. But, in my case, I had never had such an experience. »

While negotiations were underway for an extension of Fernando Alonso among the Blues, the announcement of his arrival at Aston Martin took everyone by surprise. How then can we explain the about-face of the grid veteran? “ I believe this is capitalism in its purest version. Nothing is certain until the signing. We had a lot of discussions with Fernando, we wanted him to stay, apparently he also had these conversations with Aston Martin », Points out the manager.

Szafnauer understands Alonso choice, not Piastri

Obviously, the choice of the Spaniard disappointed a large number of people even if it is not the first time that a driver has turned his back on his team by surprise and even more so when your name is Fernando Alonso. “ I cannot be so naive as not to know the rules of the game of Formula 1, believes Otmar Szafnauer. But personally, I believe that I am a man of integrity and that if I commit to doing something, I will do everything I can to get it done. »

If in the end, Alonso's departure is part of the rules of the game, that of Oscar Piastri is much less so. After having nurtured him for many years to transform him into a driver ready to mark the discipline, Alpine could ultimately see his talent slip away for his main competitor, McLaren. " In our future, in this 100-race plan that we are all working on, I think there is also a place for Piastri. And we supported him. There should be some loyalty to the fact that we literally invested millions and millions of euros to prepare it », recalls the 57-year-old leader.

It is true that since the passage of the young pilot under the fold Alpine, the French team spent a lot to prepare him to embody the future of the Blues. So in the event of departure, the brand with the arrow A will surely seek to receive compensation. “ We must take into account that last year we put it in a car and that he has done 3 kilometers. We've done seven independent tests with it and it's not cheap at all. The cost of a single engine is 500 euros. The mechanics, the team that managed these tests, the flights and the travel… We spent a lot, a lot of money on Piastri to prepare it for the future. And, if this future is not with us, it is logical and fair that we ask for compensation », Announces Otmar Szafnauer.

Alonso expected for the end of the season with Alpine

So these two files promise to make the end of the season even more explosive at Alpine. In the battle with McLaren for 4^e place in the championship, Otmar is nevertheless counting on the involvement of Fernando Alonso to succeed in achieving this objective. “ I have gotten along very well with him since day one. And that’s because he’s a competitor, which I really like. Maybe you don't know me deeply, but I am extremely competitive and, like Fernando, I want nothing more than to achieve results, that's what motivates me. The relationship between now and the end of the year is going to be about focusing on beating McLaren, we need to be fourth in the championship. And this competitive instinct is also present in Fernando. It doesn't matter if he goes to Aston Martin next year. As soon as he puts on his helmet, he wants to do his best », Explains the manager.

As for Oscar Piastri, the question will now be whether he is legally entitled to leave the fold Alpine. If this is the case then, we will have to find a replacement for 2023. According to our information, Daniel Ricciardo is still at the top of the list of contenders. But Otmar Szafnauer is not worried, ensuring that he has already received “ fourteen phone calls from interested pilots ". What is certain is that the summer break is only just beginning, the rest promises to be hectic at Alpine.

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