Pierre Gasly breaks silence on Alpine sacking Otmar Szafnauer just a month after Ryan Reynolds’s $220 million capital infusion

Alpine have sacked all their current head honchos as a part of their massive technical reorganisation.

Pierre Gasly breaks silence on Alpine sacking Otmar Szafnauer just a month after Ryan Reynolds’s $220 million capital infusion

Pierre Gasly (Left, credits: PlanetF1), Ryan Reynolds (Middle, credits: News 24) and Otmar Sfaznaeur (Right, credits: Mirror)

Alpine’s fortunes in Formula One have turned for the worst, resulting in a huge reshuffling inside the squad. After a stunning sprint in the Belgian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly expressed disappointment that the season had not gone as planned. Gasly sent his best regards to Otmar Szafnauer, Laurent Rossi, Pat Fry, and Alain Parmane as they left.

The new modifications result from a €200 million ($220 million) capital infusion by Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds‘s investment firm. Despite this cash injection, the squad had difficulty, failing to meet the high expectations of Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo. Alpine’s fourth-place finish last year heightened expectations for a repeat performance, but the team is presently sixth in the constructors’ standings, trailing rivals McLaren.

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In the aftermath of the sprint race, Pierre Gasly candidly expressed his feelings, saying, “I’m sorry that the season isn’t going as we expected. There are a lot of changes at the moment.” The Frenchman added, “But my thoughts go to Otmar, Laurent, Pat, and Alain and the work they’ve done. I wish them all the best.”

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A major hindrance has been the underpowered Renault E-Tech RE23 power unit. Alpine has called for equalization, but current regulations restrict changes for reliability alone. The team reportedly lags 15kw behind competitors, translating to a 0.25-second per lap deficit, increasing to 0.4 seconds on high-speed circuits.

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Bruno Famin assumes the interim team principal role amidst Mattia Binotto speculations

Mattia Binotto returned to the paddock in Silverstone after getting fired
Mattia Binotto returned to the paddock in Silverstone after getting fired (Credits: Planet F1)

In response, Alpine enacted significant leadership changes, with Laurent Rossi replaced as Team Principal by Rémi Taffin. Meanwhile, Bruno Famin assumed the Interim Team Principal role alongside his other duties. Julian Rouse stepped in as Interim Sporting Director during this transition.

Amidst the reshuffling, speculation swirls around the potential return of former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto. Known for his prowess in power unit development, Binotto’s entry could signal a turning point for Alpine. While he denied any whispers of him joining the team, eyes will be on the Italian about his return to the paddock.

Currently, Alpine finds itself in a precarious position, unable to challenge McLaren ahead or feel threatened by Williams trailing behind. The struggles to perform have necessitated drastic measures within the team.

As the race day approaches, both the cars will start outside the top ten for the main event and will be hoping to salvage their weekend. The Sprint will undoubtedly add to their confidence for tomorrow’s race, and it will be interesting to watch what will come of the race. 

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