“The buck stops with Otmar,” Alpine CEO warns Otmar Szafnauer and co. of ‘consequences’ amid disastrous start to 2023

Alpine have a 100-race plan to return to the front and compete for race wins again. Well, it doesn’t look likely right now that they’ll achieve it. Last season, they had the clear fourth-best car (reflected in their championship finishing position), but they’ve taken a step backward in 2023. Currently, they sit sixth in the standings, and their best result of the season has been a measly P8. The Otmar Szafnauer-led team have not had a good time.

They would’ve hoped to at least be closer to the top pack this season. But that has not been the case at all – they’ve even been jumped by Aston Martin in the pecking order. The Silverstone team were P7 in the standings last season, but they’ve taken a gigantic step forward. All of this means that the pressure is mounting at Alpine, and dissatisfaction is spreading. Laurent Rossi, their chief executive, is not happy either and stated that Szafnauer is ‘responsible’ for the team’s performance.

In an interview with F1.com, Rossi said: “He is responsible for the performance of the team – that’s his job. There is no hiding here. Otmar was brought in to steer the team, through the season and the next seasons towards the objectives that we have, which is to constantly make progress, as we did in the first two years – fifth and fourth – and to get to the podiums and therefore, this is his mission to turn this team around and bring it to the performance that we want.”

He continued: “We had a team that performed reasonably well last year, got the fourth position which is the best improvement we had in a long time. It showed a lot of promise. It’s more of less the same people so I don’t accept that we are not capable of maintaining that. Yes, it is Otmar and the rest of his team as Otmar alone doesn’t do everything, but the buck stops with Otmar. It’s Otmar’s responsibility, yes.” This is a rather unsubtle warning to Szafnauer.

Read More: Alpine’s boss gives a brutally honest take on the team’s performance, labels it ‘amateurish and unacceptable’

Laurent Rossi: Alpine finishing lower than P4 will be a ‘failure’

Right now, the top pack is clear: Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari. Red Bull are clearly top dogs. But that doesn’t mean Alpine will readjust their targets. Laurent Rossi said: “It’s too early to do that – and I don’t want to give people the comfort. I don’t enter a competition and reset my objective because it’s easier. The team managed to get fourth. They have the means to get fourth, more so than others. I want them to be fourth. If they don’t, it’s going to be a failure.”

If the team are unable to turn their season around, the Frenchman warns – there will be consequences. He continued: “If they fail by giving 500% best and turning this ship around, there will be extenuating circumstances and it bodes well for the future. If not, it’s the rule of business, there’s going to be consequences. And I won’t wait until the end of the year. The trajectory is not good. We need to fix the mindset of the team ASAP.” Otmar Szafnauer’s team have a hard task at their hand.

It will be interesting to see what Alpine can do for the rest of the season. The top four look untouchable right now – they might just have to settle for a P5, or perhaps lower, at the end of the season. If so, according to Rossi’s warning, there will definitely be consequences. It’s safe to assume that some major figures may be shown the exit door – and Szafnauer will not be safe.

In case you missed it:

• “Didn’t believe in my performance,” Fernando Alonso throws shade at former team Alpine, claims he is better off at Aston Martin
• “Bitterly disappointing,” Otmar Szafnauer bemoans Alpine’s misfortune at the Azerbaijan GP

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW