Bruno Famin addresses Otmar Szafnauer’s dramatic Alpine dismissal at Spa

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Alpine took the bold decision to replace team principal Otmar Szafnauer last season and he was replaced by Bruno Famin.

What was the most bizarre part of the 59-year-old’s decision was that Alpine announced it halfway through the Belgian Grand Prix.

The latest season of Drive to Survive has provided more information about why the French manufacturer made the decision and how other team bosses in the paddock reacted.

Famin replaced Szafnauer at Alpine after difficult start to 2023

Alpine went into 2023 with high hopes and a new driver line-up.

Fernando Alonso left the team to join Aston Martin and their intended replacement Oscar Piastri ended up at McLaren.

This meant they had to look around the grid for a new driver and decided on Pierre Gasly.

The Frenchman needed to move on from AlphaTauri but his strained relationship with Esteban Ocon was well-documented.

The pair ended up colliding in Australia and Hungary and ultimately the team’s performances dropped off compared to the year before.

They went from fourth in the Constructors’ Championship to sixth and that wasn’t acceptable for the French works team.

It meant that Otmar Szafnauer and several other senior Alpine personnel were let go, with Bruno Famin put in interim charge.

He’s now taken the job on full-time for 2024 and explained to Drive to Survive why the team had to make a change.

F1 world reacts to Szafnauer departing Alpine at Spa

Asked about the decision, Famin said: “When we realized we were very far from our performance goals, we talked with Otmar and the top management, and we realized we weren’t on the same page about the way to change things. So we agreed, it was better to go our separate ways.”

Szafnauer provided his own view and said: “Alpine could have been much more honest and transparent. Sometimes, you take two steps forward, one step backwards before you get to where you’re going.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: “It’s a punchy decision. But Alpine is a mystery in many respects in terms of how that team runs and operates. I mean let’s see how that works out.”

Meanwhile, McLaren chief Zak Brown said: “With Bruno [Famin] coming in, everyone wants to see how the new guy operates.”

Alpine’s decision to replace Szafnauer with Famin didn’t improve their position in the championship but they’ll hope puts them in a better place for future seasons.

They’ve had some difficulties in pre-season testing but have not looked too far off the pace.

It’s up to Famin, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon to help the team kick on now.

That’s easier said than done when the rest of the grid are all trying to achieve the same thing.