Former Aston Martin member Otmar Szafnauer was appointed Alpine’s team principal on Thursday. PHOTO: Alpineracing.com

BRENDAN LINES February 18, 2022

OTMAR Szafnauer expected Alpine to fight for the championship “within the next 100 races,”  when he was appointmented team principal on Thursday.

A designated team principal is a departure from Alpine’s 2021 structure and was among a raft of appointments that completes the Franco-British team’s management reshuffle over the off-season on.

Szafnauer, had been linked to the top job at Alpine after his departure from Aston Martin after the 2021 season, which coincided with BWT pulling its sponsorship deal.

“I am thrilled to join BWT Alpine F1 Team and ready to get to work with everyone to achieve our challenge: bring the team to fight for the championship within the next 100 races,” Szafnauer said.

“My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of the three car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, Alpine is fully armed to achieve its ambition, I can’t wait to start the journey!”

When BWT was named Alpine’s title sponsor just days out from the launch of Alpine’s 2022 car — the A522 — it was a clear signal Szafnauer’s arrival was imminent. 

Previously it was CEO Laurent Rossi, Davide Brivio and former executive director Marcin Budkowski who shared the role, after Cyril Abiteboul’s exit after 2020.

The appointment of Szafnauer was the headline appointment to Alpine’s management structure for the 2022 season, which included the addition of Bruno Famin, executive director (replacing Budkowski), Davide Brivio taking on director of racing projects.  

Szafnauer, Kamin and Brivio are members of the Alpine Management Committee, led by Laurent Rossi, Alpine CEO.

It has been  turbulent past few months which saw an unceremonious exit of three-time world champion Alain Prost from his advisory role, plus Budkowski.

Rossi said each one of the new appointments would play a part in the team’s on-track, technical and talent development efforts.

“With Otmar and Bruno joining the team, we move to a new level for 2022,” Rossi said.

“Otmar will bring his unique experience in motorsports and his uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technologies that make a difference in competition and their subsequent transference to road cars is critical for our project as a sports team and as a brand. 

“Over the past year I have seen Davide’s talent to identify the best in people, and to make them perform as well as they can. I am delighted to utilize this unique skill across all existing Alpine assets and new ones we are just starting to explore. Our band of racers is complete and ready to bring the team towards its ambitious objectives in 2022.”

Brivio, will oversee talent identification and development in all categories. In parallel he will lead special projects to aid Alpine exploring new motorsport categories.

Famin, will be based at the team’s Viry-Châtillon headquarters and will be responsible for the development of the Power Unit and chassis.

Alpine will launch its 2022 car on February 21.