Otmar Szafnauer confirmed at Alpine, Bruno Famin as reinforcement

The open secret was lifted this Thursday, February 17 at the end of the afternoon. Alpine has indeed confirmed the arrival of Otmar Szafnauer as Team Principal of the French team in Formula 1.

The 57-year-old American, did not know the existence of AUTOhebdo when we exposed his very probable departure from the team Aston Martin in fall 2021 (see n°2337). Finally, this scoop gained veracity on January 12 through the officialization by his team of his departure from the post of Director General.

BWT Alpine F1 Team strengthens its management structure for challenges of new era of F1.

We're delighted to announce a new organization, under Laurent Red's leadership, to allow the team to maximize its performance within the new era of F1 regulations.

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—BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 17, 2022

With a 33-year history in motor sports, Otmar Szafnauer will have to manage A arrow training on the 23 circuits visited by F1 in 2022. Arriving at British American Racing (BAR) in F1 in 1998, the American born in Romania then knew the management committee of Honda F1 between 2001 and 2008.

It was with the modest Force India structure, renamed Racing Point then Aston Martin in the 2010s, that he stood out in the paddock for his pugnacity in the face of adversity. He was notably able to advance a team despite a lack of finances and financial setbacks with former boss Vijay Mallya (from 7th in 2010 to 4th in 2016 and 2017).

“I am delighted to join BWT Alpine F1 Team and ready to work with everyone to meet our challenge: to get the team to fight for the championship in the next 100 races, he said. My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of three car manufacturers involved in the discipline, Alpine is fully equipped to achieve this ambition, I can't wait to get started! »

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Otmar Szafnauer will not be alone in this new adventure. The Frenchman Bruno Famin will have his office at the factory Alpine Racing Viruses-Châtillon (Essonne), where he will serve as Executive Director. His experience of around fifteen years within the house Peugeot (program director Endurance 908, Pikes Peak 208 T16, Rallycross 208 Supercar and Dakar 2008/3008 DKR) will be used on the V6 turbo hybrid engine side.

The training engineer will also have to put in place measures and structures so that the Enstone antenna can best implement the engine in the chassis. Technology transfer between Alpine F1 and Alpine Cars will be another of his tasks.

“It’s great to be back competing, and even greater to join Alpine, with such ambition and unique engineering capabilities, declared the man who worked at the FIA ​​as Secretary-General of the Sport section. Viry-Châtillon is one of the largest factories anyone could dream of, I look forward to joining its incredible talents, and working closely with the teams at Enstone, Dieppe and Boulogne-Billancourt. »

The CEO ofAlpine, Laurent Rossi, is very confident following this double nomination. “With the addition of Otmar and Bruno to the team, we are moving to a new level for 2022. Otmar will bring his unique motorsport experience and uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno's background makes the difference in competition. The transfer of technology to road cars is essential for our project as a sports team and as a brand. »

And Davide Brivio in all this? The former boss of Suzuki MotoGP, who we often felt erased for his year of discovery of F1 in 2021 with the Blues as Competition Director, rises to the rank of Director of Motorsport Expansion Projects.

According to the press release, the Italian will be keen to ensure theAlpine Academy, made up of five young talents, as well as to strengthen " team spirit " between Fernando Alonso et Esteban Ocon “and in all categories”. A happiness manager who doesn't say his name?

ALSO READ > D. Brivio: “I am only a link in the chain”

More seriously, Davide Brio will also seek to “identify, develop and implement projects around new opportunities for Alpine in the world of motorsport and explore new areas to strengthen the development ofAlpine in the sport. »

Over the past year, I have seen Davide's talent for identifying the best in people and making them perform as well as possible, said Laurent Rossi, CEO ofAlpine. I am excited to use this unique skill in all areas ofAlpine existing ones and the new ones that we are just beginning to explore. »