“We can do better than the team that Fernando Alonso is going to,” Otmar Szfanauer deems Spaniard’s move to Aston Martin as a MISTAKE 


“We can do better than the team that Fernando Alonso is going to,” Otmar Szfanauer deems Spaniard’s move to Aston Martin as a MISTAKE 

Fernando Alonso

The F1 grid for the 2023 season has been shaping up in a rather unexpected manner. In just over 24 hours, we have witnessed two surprising moves, with Fernando Alonso switching from Alpine to Aston Martin in 2023. On the other hand, the vacant Alpine seat has been awarded to the Australian FP2 prodigy Oscar Piastri.

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Last week, Sebastian Vettel shocked the F1 community when he decided to hang up his helmet at the end of the current season. There was some speculation regarding his successor at Aston Martin, which eventually went in the way of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szfanauer believes that Fernando Alonso has made a huge mistake in switching teams. Otmar has been a part of Aston Martin camp for over a decade, and stated that he understands the team more than his current team.

I know the two teams well because I spent twelve years on the other team. I know the people there even more than here [at Alpine]. I know that in December, they signed some good people, alongside Dan Fallows [ex-Red Bull] and Eric Blandin [ex-Mercedes],” said Alonso.

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“I know what they’re trying to do. Both teams have a lot of potential. But today, Alpine performs at a much higher level. In the short term, we will be at this level or even better,” he added.

Also Read: Oscar Piastri set to replace Fernando Alonso for Alpine for 2023

“There are plans here to win in 100 races” : Otmar Szfanauer on Alpine’s ambitions

Otmar Szafnauer at Aston Martin
Otmar Szafnauer at Aston Martin

Otmar Szfanauer also outlined Alpine’s ambition going forward, which includes winning as many as 100 races. They are also committed to recruiting as many as 75 new employees in the near future.

Hence, he believes that Fernando Alonso could have made a error in making such a decision. He is confident that Alpine could have provided the Spaniard with a better package than Aston Martin.

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“There are plans here to win in 100 races. We will hire 75 more people in strategic areas, and there are tools that we are improving, like the simulator,” said Otmar.

“I am confident that we can do better than the team that Fernando is going to in the time that he is going there,” he added.

The A522 has been delivering this season, as Alpine is placed fourth in the constructors championship, ahead of rivals McLaren. Obviously, there is still a long way to go, but there is something certainly cooking at the French team. Did Fernando Alonso make a mistake in switching teams? Only time will tell.

Also Read: “We need to speak with the team,” Charles Leclerc left frustrated after yet another ‘strategy’ at the Hungarian GP

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Also Read: “Ferrari’s strategists are brilliant,” Jeremy Clarkson takes a sarcastic dig at Ferrari after ‘huge blunder’ in Hungary

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