Otmar Szafnauer’s appearance before the media at Spa-Francorchamps has given a lot of himself, as the director of Alpine has been asked by Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri. And the truth is that he has not beaten around the bush.
Alpine got into trouble in early August when Fernando Alonso announced his signing for Aston Martin for 2023 and Oscar Piastri refused to have signed a contract to replace him.
As the weeks went by, the effect of said mess had dissipated, but when the competition returned, everything has resurfaced and it has done so with force.
“The surprise was that it was announced on Monday morning, when on Sunday night he said there was no rush”
Fernando Alonso gave his version of what happened last Thursday at the official FIA conference in Spa-Francorchamps. At that time, he confirmed that Otmar Szafnauer did not know his decision to leave Alpine because the Alpine team manager had not been involved in the Asturian’s renewal negotiations, unlike Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine Cars.
This Saturday, it was Otmar Szafnauer who appeared before the media at the official event of the Belgian Grand Prix, responding to the words of Fernando Alonso and updating the existing labor situation between Alpine and Oscar Piastri.
Szafnauer corrects Alonso’s words
As expected, the American of Romanian origin has been asked about his participation in the contract renewal negotiations with Fernando Alonso, since the two-time champion had stated that his boss on the circuits had not been part of them.
“The negotiations started before I joined the team,” Szafnauer began by saying. “We were all aware that the contract was ending. Fernando said that he wanted to continue in the team and they started without me, although towards the end he was involved in those conversations. From France”.
That is, Otmar Szafnauer states that joined the negotiations with Fernando Alonso at the end of Julythat is, days before the one who will be an Aston Martin driver in 2023 announced that he was leaving on August 1.
“We had made a lot of progress in our negotiations with Fernando and we were at the end,” continues Otmar Szafnauer. “He told us that he was ready to sign. We knew that he could negotiate with others, because he was a free agentbut the surprise was that it was announced on Monday morning, when on Sunday night he said that there was no need to hurry.
No rancor with Alonso, professionalism with Piastri
Be that as it may, Alpine now has to end the season with two drivers who will not be with the team in 2023. And Szafnauer does not see things the same way in both cases.
As far as Fernando Alonso is concerned, the Alpine director admits that he bears no grudge at all. “Not at all, he was free and could do what was best for him. An agreement has to be good for both parties, and if he has found one that was good for him, he should pursue it.. He was free to do what he did ».
He does not see things in the same way with Oscar Piastri, whom has branded disloyal and false on several occasions. Of course, he affirms that the Australian continues to work for the team in the same way that he did before the crisis began.
“Oscar is at Enstone, he drives in the simulator and helps with the car set-up.. We prepare you in the same way as in the past. The relationship continues. We signed a contract with him until the end of 2023, with an option for 2024, and there was no July 31 clause.
Next Monday, August 29, the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) of the FIA will determine if Oscar Piastri’s contract is valid or if, on the contrary, the one that he has signed with McLaren is the one that prevails.
Font: Brand
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Photos: Alpine F1 Team