Szafnauer parted company with Alpine after the current Belgian Grand Prix following a disagreement between himself and the sportscar producer’s bosses over the timeline wanted for it to win in F1.
Whereas Szafnauer mentioned his a long time of expertise in F1 prompted him to really feel it might take till 2026 for Alpine to hit its goal, the corporate’s senior administration was adamant that it may very well be delivered a lot sooner.
With such a basic divergence over the long-term imaginative and prescient for the staff, it was agreed that they need to go their separate methods with speedy impact.
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Szafnauer’s departure, simply over a yr since he arrived on the squad, brought on shock throughout the paddock – particularly when Alpine additionally introduced that the staff’s highly-rated sporting director Alan Permane was additionally leaving.
Perez, who labored with Szafnauer on the Racing Level squad, thinks his departure was untimely as a result of it takes so lengthy to construct success in F1.
Requested about his response to Szafnauer’s departure, Perez mentioned: “I feel I used to be fairly shocked with it, given how brief discover it was.
“I feel Otmar is nice, [and] any particular person in that place, you’ve acquired to provide them time. I feel Otmar lacked time to actually present his potential, which I do know is large as a result of I’ve seen what he is executed in different groups with very restricted budgets and with not-so-limited budgets as effectively.
Otmar Szafnauer, Group Principal, Alpine F1 Group
Picture by: Alexander Trienitz / Motorsport Images
“I feel that it is a disgrace that they let him transfer on however I feel, alternatively, whoever comes must have correct time as a result of all these items in Components 1 take an enormous time.”
However whereas there was an outpouring of sympathy for Szafnauer following the character of his exit from Alpine, not everybody has been so supportive of what he has executed on the staff.
Final week Fernando Alonso recommended that Szafnauer shouldn’t be too pleased with the way in which he had run issues at Alpine, having himself stop the squad for Aston Martin after it delayed efforts to kind out a contract for him for this yr and past.
Chatting with the BBC about Alpine’s mishandling of the contract talks, Alonso mentioned: “It was simply on a really gradual tempo, and it was not from my aspect. I used to be simply prepared and comfortable. The 2022 automotive was a quick automotive so I used to be additionally pleased with the efficiency and the chances into the longer term.
“In order that gradual tempo of conversations and finally not even placing on paper what we have been writing and all these feedback concerning the age and no matter, which they’re nonetheless doing.
“It’s the approach they do issues. Or the way in which Otmar does issues. As a result of after this yr, he ought to be quiet. He shouldn’t discuss in any respect. After the outcomes of Aston Martin and the outcomes he is reaching, he is nonetheless speaking and nonetheless pleased with the choice, which is unbelievable, wonderful.”