By mutual consent, Otmar Szafnauer is set to leave his role as team principal of Alpine F1 after the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix. He will carry on with his responsibilities as usual for the Belgian race before departing ahead of the summer break.
Alpine has expressed its gratitude towards Szafnauer for his hard work and leadership over the last 18 months, which helped the team secure fourth place in the 2022 constructors’ championship. The team has wished him success in his future endeavors.
Bruno Famin will step into the role temporarily after Szafnauer’s departure. Famin, recently named as VP of Alpine F1 Flow, was previously in charge of Renault’s operations in Viry-Chatillon and has worked with Peugeot and the FIA.
Alan Permane, Alpine’s sporting director with 34 years of service to the Enstone organization, is also set to leave post-break. His position will be temporarily filled by Julian Rouse, Alpine Academy’s director.
These changes are part of a significant recent restructuring at Alpine, instigated by Renault’s overall boss, Luca de Meo. The overhaul included CEO Laurent Rossi, who used to be Szafnauer’s superior, shifting into special projects.
Szafnauer, 58, joined Alpine in February of the previous year after leaving his role as team principal at Aston Martin. His tenure at the Silverstone team dates back to 2009, when it was known as Force India and then Racing Point. He led the transition to Lawrence Stroll’s ownership and the team’s subsequent rebranding to Aston Martin.
Despite his upcoming departure, Szafnauer represented Alpine at the F1 Commission’s recent meeting at Spa.
Just a week ago, he expressed faith in De Meo, affirming that the Renault boss had granted him 100 races to make the team winners. He remains confident that De Meo will honor his commitment.
Permane began his journey with the then-named Benetton team in 1989 as an electronics engineer. He was part of the team during the Michael Schumacher era, which saw the German win world championships in 1994 and 1995.
As part of a separate move, Alpine’s chief technical officer, Pat Fry, will leave to join Williams in a similar capacity by the end of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alpine F1 Team Changes
Who is leaving the Alpine F1 team?
Otmar Szafnauer, the team principal, and Alan Permane, the sporting director, are both leaving the Alpine F1 team.
When is Otmar Szafnauer leaving the Alpine F1 team?
Otmar Szafnauer will be leaving his position as team principal of the Alpine F1 team after the Belgian Grand Prix, before the summer break.
Who will replace Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane at Alpine F1?
Szafnauer will be replaced on an interim basis by Bruno Famin, who was recently appointed as VP of Alpine F1 Flow. Alan Permane’s position will be temporarily filled by Julian Rouse, the director of Alpine Academy.
Why are these changes happening at Alpine F1?
These changes are part of a major management reshuffle at the Alpine company, which was initiated by Renault’s overall boss, Luca de Meo.
Who is Bruno Famin?
Bruno Famin was recently named as the VP of Alpine F1 Flow. Before this role, he was in charge of Renault’s operations in Viry-Chatillon and has previously worked at Peugeot and the FIA.
What did Otmar Szafnauer do before joining Alpine?
Before joining Alpine, Szafnauer was the team principal at Aston Martin. He joined the Silverstone team in 2009, when it was known as Force India and later Racing Point, and led the transition to Lawrence Stroll’s ownership and the team’s subsequent rebranding to Aston Martin.
More about Alpine F1 Team Changes
- Alpine F1 Team Official Website
- Otmar Szafnauer’s Career Overview
- Latest News on Formula 1
- Profile of Bruno Famin
- Alan Permane’s Professional Journey
- Information about Renault’s Operations in Viry-Chatillon
- Luca de Meo’s Leadership at Renault
7 comments
szafnauer was a solid leader, gonna be interesting to see how the team adapts. Changes in leadership can be dicey…
Whoa! Big changes ahead for Alpine, eh? I am excited to see what Famin brings to the table.
omg not Permane too!! He’s been with the team forever… hope Julian Rouse steps up!
interesting times for Alpine, lot of management shifts going on. lets see if they manage to keep up their performance
Szafnauer and Permane leaving…thats a surprise. These changes better be worth it Alpine!!
Wow, Alpine is losing two major figures, Szafnauer and Permane… big shoes to fill for the newcomers, hope they handle it well.
well didn’t see this coming!! Szafnauer’s done a decent job at Alpine imo. Hope Bruno Famin can keep up the momentum…