Otmar Szafnauer gives verdict on Alpine display in Bahrain after recent ‘bad decisions’

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Otmar Szafnauer says ‘bad decisions’ from the bosses at Alpine are to blame for the team’s woes in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Szafnauer, who was appointed team principal in February 2022, was sacked by the team midway through the 2023 season at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sporting director Alan Permane was also dismissed, and Szafnauer feels these decisions have sewn instability at Enstone.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were the two slowest drivers in qualifying last Friday, locking out the back row.

While they were each able to gain a couple of places in the race, that was only because Williams driver Logan Sargeant and the Sauber of Valtteri Bottas both ran into trouble.

Szafnauer slams Alpine hierarchy after miserable start

Speaking to Viaplay Sports Nederland, Szafnauer suggested that figures at the ‘highest level’ may regret the calls they have made.

He believes the French team’s results are partly a consequence of their failure to provide ‘security’ for employees.

“The stopwatch doesn’t lie, and it doesn’t look good,” he said. “People at the highest level have made some bad decisions.

“Firing people and not providing security within the team from a psychological point of view gets you this result later on.”

Alpine face huge development task for rest of 2024

In his first season as the permanent team boss after initially taking over from Szafnauer on a permanent basis, Bruno Famin faces a daunting task.

Ocon urged the team to ‘keep pushing’ after their back-row lock-out in qualifying, with 23 races still to go and plenty of time to improve.

But frustration already seems to be creeping in for teammate Gasly, who was ‘ranting a lot’ over the radio during Saturday’s Grand Prix.