The director of Alpine admits that the unexpected departure of Fernando Alonso at the end of this season will be a major blow for the team, although he is clear that his aspirations for this year remain intact.
Alpine is fully aware of what he is leaving behind by not having renewed Fernando Alonso, who has decided to stop negotiations with his current team and commit to Aston Martin for 2023.
Otmar Szafnauer It has been in charge of making it clear in the official statement from Alpine that it serves as a preview for the Belgian Grand Prix, the first round of the championship after the three-week summer break completed in August.
“The attention we’ve garnered won’t distract us at all once we hit the track again.”
The director of the Anglo-French team has recharged his batteries and now states that “everyone at Alpine feels revitalized after the Formula 1 summer break. It is always a good time to take stock of the season so far, reflect on the positives and assess some of the areas for improvement”.
“Now, we all feel ready and motivated for the second part of the season where there is a lot to decide. We left Budapest at the end of July fourth in the constructors’ championship and our goal is simple: we want to be in the same position at the end of the season in Abu Dhabi”reiterates Otmar Szafnauer
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Prominence in the media
As soon as August began, Alpine monopolized the Formula 1 news by confirming the departure of Fernando Alonso and produce the subsequent crisis around Oscar Piastri.
Regardless of whether the alleged bad relationship between the Asturian driver and Otmar Szafnauer is real, the Romanian-born American engineer admits that Fernando Alonso will be missed at Alpine.
“Clearly the team has been quite prominent in the global media. in the days after Hungary, just before the summer holidays. However, it won’t distract us at all once we hit the track again,” Szafnauer begins.
“Yes ok we are going to lose a fantastic asset in Fernando for next yearhis decision bears no relation to what we want to achieve together in 2022”, expands Szafnauer.
“We will push hard as a team, with Fernando and Esteban in the car for the rest of the year.with the aim of putting ourselves in the best possible position to meet the aforementioned objectives».
Now it’s time to think about the competition, with Spa-Francorchamps as the next challenge to overcome. “I know both drivers are highly motivated, so we’re all looking forward to channeling that energy onto the track.. This segment of the calendar is probably the hardest and longest of the season », she concludes.
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Alpine F1 Team
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Photos: Alpine F1 Team