Alpine confirm Szafnauer as team principal

Alpine has finally confirmed Otmar Szafnauer as its new team principal following the conclusion of its management review.

Szafnauer was long touted for a switch towards the French marque last season prior to his departure as team principal of Aston Martin at the start of the year.

Szafnauer had been with the Silverstone-based organisation throught its various guises since 2009.

Upon joining Alpine, Szafnauer said: “I am thrilled to join BWT Alpine F1 Team and ready to get to work with everyone to achieve our challenge - bring the team to fight for the championship within the next 100 races.

"My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of the three car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, Alpine is fully armed to achieve its ambition. I can’t wait to start the journey!”

In addition to Szafnauer, Bruno Famin has been appointed executive director of the team in Viry-Châtillon overseeing the development of the power unit, working closely with Enstone to optimise its performance within the chassis package.

Famin was most recently deputy sport secretary-general at the FIA, prior to which he enjoyed a successful 15-year spell with Peugeot, notably overseeing the 908's win in Le Mans in 2009.

“It’s great to be back in competition, and even greater to join Alpine, with such ambition and unique engineering capacities," said Famin.

"Viry-Chatillon is among the greatest factories one could dream of, I can’t wait to join its amazing talents, and to work closely with the teams in Enstone, Dieppe, Les Ulis and Boulogne-Billancourt.”

Davide Brivio, who was appointed managing director last year upon his arrival from Yamaha where he was manager of its World Superbikes and MotoGP success, has taken on a new position as director of racing expansion projects.

Brivio will oversee talent identification and development in all categories, as well as exploring the possibility of new motorsport categories for Alpine.

CEO Laurent Rossi said: “With Otmar and Bruno joining the team, we move to a new level for 2022.

"Otmar will bring his unique experience in motorsports and his uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technologies that make a difference in competition and their subsequent transference to road cars is critical for our project as a sports team and as a brand.

"Over the past year, I have seen Davide’s talent to identify the best in people, and to make them perform as well as they can.

"I am delighted to utilise this unique skill across all existing Alpine assets and new ones we are just starting to explore.

"Our band of racers is complete and ready to bring the team towards its ambitious objectives in 2022.”

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