Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly made heavy contact with the wall after they touched following the final grid restart in Melbourne.
The incident triggered in depth harm to each automobiles, however the Alpine manufacturing unit began instantly replenishing its inventory of spares, making the most of the three-week break between races.
Szafnauer admits that there was a danger that the additional work would possibly delay the Baku improve however ultimately, the group was capable of persist with its unique schedule and make ample examples of the brand new flooring elements for this weekend.
He insisted that was one of many positives to be drawn from what was a nightmare race for the group.
“Loads of factors have been begging, and had that incident occurred, say with two races left and also you’re in a combat for fourth or third or fifth, then it has a much bigger influence,” he advised the F1 Nation podcast.
“However with 20 races to go, three good issues got here out of that race. One, though aided by DRS, we have been in a position to stick with Ferrari of [Carlos] Sainz, and even with out DRS keep forward of the Aston with Lance [Stroll] in it. So these have been the positives from that race.
“After which the opposite huge Positive was the truth that as quickly because the accident occurred, the whole operations right here at Enstone acquired collectively. They did not await a report of that is broken, that is broken, we’ve to interchange these suspension members or a entrance wing.
“They form of noticed what occurred and right away acquired out to diverting a number of the manufacturing useful resource into making additional spares, however with out dropping the improve that was deliberate for Baku. And that may be a super effort by everyone right here.
“So we might be going to Baku with the deliberate improve. And for most likely an hour or two earlier than everybody acquired collectively it was uncertain, since you positively should remake spares as a precedence over the improve.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A523
Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
“However now we’re off to Baku with the deliberate improve, in addition to with ample spares after the crash.
“It will be no secret to inform everybody that we have got an improve on the ground, we have a wholly new flooring. That is what it’s, a few different small little bits, however predominantly the ground.”
Relating to the 2 crashed chassis, he mentioned: “They have been okay in the truth that they have been repairable. So we did not lose one.”
Szafnauer insisted that the harm invoice has not compromised the group’s 2023 price range as there’s an allowance for such circumstances.
“We plan in our price range cap to spend a proportion of our cash for crash harm,” he mentioned.
“We glance again traditionally, and we all know what a mean yr seems like for crash harm and the way a lot that prices you.
“And having a crash like that early on simply implies that you’ve got expended a few of that crash harm price range early.
“So at this level, it has zero influence on our plans as to what we do, the upgrades that we’re bringing, in order of now, no consequence in anyway.”
Szafnauer says that the group has accepted that it was a racing incident, noting that each Ocon and Gasly initially thought that they have been in charge.
“They’re each a bit contrite,” he mentioned. “Each of them initially thought possibly that is my fault, possibly that is my fault. So when that occurs, when you’ve got 50-50, then you definately form of know that they did not see it coming.
“Each of them have been, ‘Had I not gone off, this would not have occurred, had I not tried to go by him this would not have occurred.’ So it was like 50-50.”
Relating to the group’s viewpoint on the conflict, he mentioned: “We simply needed to logically and thoroughly assessment what occurred and see the place issues may have been finished higher to have the ability to keep away from it.
“But it surely was a racing incident.”