Otmar Szafnauer seen visiting Ferrari hospitality amid Mattia Binotto to Alpine rumors

Following Laurent Rossi's public criticism of Alpine, there have been rumors that he's looking at Mattia Binotto to replace Otmar Szafnauer as team boss.

Otmar Szafnauer seen visiting Ferrari hospitality amid Mattia Binotto to Alpine rumors

Otmar Szafnauer (L) | Mattia Binotto (R)

Mattia Binotto resigned as Ferrari team principal following the end of last season. He spent just around 28 years at the company, and served in various capacities, having started in the engine department. The manner of his departure was certainly not nice, but the truth remains: He’s still a widely respected technical engineer and man. Guenther Steiner had predicted that he would get ‘opportunities’. And there have been rumors that he is being lined up to replace Otmar Szafnauer at Alpine.

These came to the fore after Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi’s numerous comments about Alpine’s current state. He called their performance ‘amateurish’ and ‘mediocre’. He further warned of ‘consequences’. The goal for Alpine remains P4 – which looks highly unlikely right now. And as team principal, Rossi put down Szafnauer as being responsible for the team’s performance.

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The Frenchman already seems to be planning what to do. According to formu1a.uno, he had apparently contacted Binotto, seeking him as a replacement for Szafnauer. Commenting on the Alpine situation on the F1 Nation Podcast, host Tom Clarkson said: “Let’s be honest, he [Rossi] burnt the house down didn’t he? He’d said the team are a bunch of dilettantes and amateurish and all these different descriptions, and no one in that team appreciated it.”

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Clarkson continued: “And none more so than team principal Otmar Szafnauer. Now, I find it very difficult.” The Alpine team principal had commented to media that he was going to ask Rossi the reason behind making those comments. Clarkson felt that the Frenchman must have had ‘ulterior motives’ behind making such comments. Motives that, perhaps, involved Binotto.

Read More: Alpine Boss Otmar Szafnauer under risk of replacement by Mattia Binotto: Report

Mattia Binotto the ‘ultimate objective’ for Alpine?

Mattia Binotto
Mattia Binotto

Further, Tom Clarkson cited a rather interesting sighting. He claimed having seen Otmar Szafnauer going in and out of Ferrari hospitality multiple times. The theories as to why he would do this are endless. So, this would make you wonder: Why? It’s possible that the reason lies with Mattia Binotto. Clarkson explained: “The man under pressure is Otmar Szafnauer.”

He said: “And interestingly, when Pedro de la Rosa and myself were recording this show last week in the Miami paddock, at one point we were outside the Ferrari hospitality area, and Otmar Szafnauer went in and out of the Ferrari hospitality area several times. And I’m trying to work out what that was all about.” It made him wonder: Is Mattia Binotto the ‘ultimate objective’ for Alpine to run their team, instead of Szafnauer?

However, Roberto Chinchero, a respected F1 journalist, also on the podcast, could not predict Binotto’s status. In addition, he was not sure if Binotto would be completely interested in returning as team principal. He felt that Binotto may want to return as technical director. In that case, Szafnauer’s visit could have another purpose – to ask about Binotto, so he can bring him over to Alpine.

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