spitfire
Walty McWaltface
Jessica Hawkins becomes first female F1 test driver in five years
Aston Martin have confirmed that their driver ambassador Jessica Hawkins has become the first woman to drive a modern F1 car in almost five years
F1 2023
- Thread starter spitfire
- Start date
1%er
Well-Known Member
Aston Martin report huge loses
Aston Martin spent £152m alone simply competing in every round of the 2022 F1 season. Aston Martin’s 2022 financial year was seemingly not a good one, as the Silverstone-based team declared a loss of £53 million, compared to their 2021 financial loss of £44 million. The British outfit lost more money in 2022 despite having actually increased its turnover by £32 million, with the team having turned over £188,728,000 last year, according to figures released to the public. The new aerodynamic regulations are largely to blame for the outfit’s loss, who now operate under the AMR GP Limited name, a subsidiary of AMR GP Holdings Limited.In order to race in every round of Formula 1 last season, Aston Martin spent an astonishing £152,046,00, whereas in 2021 they only spent £107,735,000. With administrative expenses and government grants also taken into account, the current fourth-placed team spent lost £52,915,000 last year, compared with a loss of £43,332,000 in 2021. This certainly is far from ideal for the team, who are owned by Lance Stroll’s father Lawrence Stroll, who has recently ploughed significant money into the side for a new factory to be built, to the extent that they’ll have the best facilities on the grid. Staff costs in 2022 were also up 10% compared to 2021, with the team having spent £54,983,000 on their employees.
Based on their continued expansion this isn’t a complete shock, with the team having had 401 employees in 2021, compared to a headcount of 504 in 2022. Going from being a comfortable midfield team in F1 into a frontrunner clearly comes at a significant cost, as has their new campus which was heavily invested in. On that matter, the team said, “as of December 31 2021 the group was committed to capital expenditure of $64,985,490 relating to the development of the Aston Martin F1 Campus.” The team are pulling out all the stops to become not only race winners but World Champions, something which is clearly quite far away based on their recent performances.
Whilst Fernando Alonso started his debut Aston Martin season in supreme fashion, the side as a whole have struggled in recent races and look set to fall behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship. Whether it’s a case of incorrect upgrades or not upgrading the AMR23 enough, the side have been overtaken by Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren when it comes to both performance and development.
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
1%er
Well-Known Member
Apple eye up F1 deal worth BILLIONS which would transform global TV rights
Formula 1 could be set for a major broadcast shake-up after reports emerged over Apple's interest in bidding for the global television rights for the sport. According to the latest edition of Business F1 magazine, Apple are 'serious' about mounting a 'blockbuster' bid in the future for the global rights to broadcast F1. It is thought that the deal could cost up to $2billion (£1.64bn) a year, an amount that would be twice as much as F1 currently receive from their global TV rights. The report states that Apple are looking at a 'sliding scale' of exclusivity, starting at an initial 25 per cent, before eventually targeting 100 per cent in five years' time when the remaining contracts come to a conclusion.The roaring success of Apple's new deal with the MLS (USA's Major League Soccer) is understood to have spurred on another charge for F1's broadcast rights. Given the triumph of Netflix's hit fly-on-the-wall documentary series Drive to Survive, it is no wonder that Apple are rumoured to be interested in pursuing the sport further. Alongside F1, Apple are also believed to be eyeing up a move to show the English Premier League as they look to create a comprehensive live sports package.
Whether any deal with Apple will materialise is yet to be seen, but the likes of Sky Sports and Viaplay will no doubt be taking notice of Apple's intentions as they aim to take a slice – or even the whole cake – of F1's action. Despite the unsubstantiated claims that Max Verstappen's dominance is driving fans away from the sport, Apple apparently see otherwise when it comes to the future of F1.
spitfire
Walty McWaltface
Bring it on.
Google want your data, Apple wants your money. They can have it and I can bin off Now TV.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
Ah, Qatar.
Who can forget last year's World Cup, with its memorable slogan: "Are you from FIFA? Have a bung!"
It's another one of those let's-have-four-races-for-the-price-of-one weekends.
Accordingly, the sessions and UK telly times will be:
Fri 6 Oct
FP1 - 14:30
Qual - 18:00
Sat 7 Oct
Sprint Shootout - 14:00
Sprint - 18:30
Sun 8 Oct
Race - 18:00
Best watched with booze and snacks.
Cheers.
Who can forget last year's World Cup, with its memorable slogan: "Are you from FIFA? Have a bung!"
It's another one of those let's-have-four-races-for-the-price-of-one weekends.
Accordingly, the sessions and UK telly times will be:
Fri 6 Oct
FP1 - 14:30
Qual - 18:00
Sat 7 Oct
Sprint Shootout - 14:00
Sprint - 18:30
Sun 8 Oct
Race - 18:00
Best watched with booze and snacks.
Cheers.
souljacker
innit
They will probably nail the coverage. Apple TV is one of the better streaming platforms and their sport coverage is good.
1%er
Well-Known Member
99% of the F1 coverage will come from FOM (Liberty) as they have their own production company that supplies the world feed, but if it happens it will be interesting to see who they have commentating and the front of camera team.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Key technical details reported for new-look F1 2026 challengers
Further details of what might be on the way in the F1 2026 regulations has been revealed in a report in German media. While the F1 2026 power unit regulations are in place already, the technical regulations governing the chassis to go with the revised engine formula haven’t yet been nailed down. It’s been a constant process of evolution and tweaking and, while not yet official, more details on what the cars could look like in 2026 has been reported by respected German publication Auto Motor und Sport.What changes are on the way for the F1 2026 technical regulations?
The big change on the engine front is the removal of the MGU-H, with the electrical output component of the power unit increasing three-fold from its current output. The internal combustion engine will remain broadly the same as it is now, with the 2026 rules seeing a much greater focus on the hybrid ancillary output as well as a mandatory switch to carbon-neutral fuel. However, the changes to the power unit mean big changes to the chassis in order to ensure the spectacle isn’t reduced. There have been plenty of misgivings about the possibility of the cars being a mish-mash of compromises as a result, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s comments earlier this summer about his fears of a ‘Frankenstein’ car being the most vocal.
But Horner has since revealed that he is much more assured about the direction of the new technical regulations, and AMuS have reported some of the key details of what may be on the way for 2026. According to the report, countermeasures are being taken against the extra weight of the new hybrid power units in order to ensure the overall weight doesn’t shoot up any further. Instead, the intention is to reduce the weight by some 50 kilogrammes, although this may not be immediately possible in one fell swoop. According to AMuS, an initial 20kg drop is more likely, with the aim being to reduce it further over a season or two. Intriguingly, the possibility is there that the F1 minimum weight will be scrapped altogether, ensuring competition between the teams will be the main driver of weight reduction. The stringent safety tests the FIA enforce would ensure that no safety measures are cut in that regard, while the budget cap would ensure a measured approach to the funding thrown at such a move.
Smaller, lighter F1 cars on the way?
Such a move would give the design offices of each team a new headache – whether or not to focus on reliability and a little more robustness in manufacturing, or whether to aim lightweight and risk failures. AMuS say minimum standards for suspension design would still be required, in order to ensure teams don’t cut corners on safety grounds. With the power unit weights increasing, compromises have to be made elsewhere to bring down the overall weight. To that end, the gearboxes are mooted to have just six gears, instead of eight, while the cars and tyres will shrink – the width of the cars from 200 to 190 centimetres, and the overall wheelbase from 360 to 340 centimetres.
Smaller cars will also mean less downforce produced from the wings, with initial calculations suggesting a reduction of some 40 per cent from the reduced air volume and car area. However, active aerodynamics can be used to mitigate some of the losses, as well as to reduce drag down the straights to prevent the much-feared prospect of downshifting down the straights in order to charge the batteries. Crucially, AMuS say that initial simulations suggest the cars will be negligibly slower than the current iterations and that steps are being taken to introduce a small concept change to ensure following cars becomes easier and, thus, boost overtaking possibilities.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Jessica Hawkins: The first woman who drove an F1 car for 5 years
Jessica Hawkins made her dream a reality by driving a Formula 1 car for the first time last week in Hungary. The British driver drove the 2021 Aston Martin AMR21 around the Hungaroing, in doing so becoming the first woman to get behind the wheel of a grand prix car since 2018. Hawkins did something very special by driving that car as it brings more hope for women drivers to make the leap to F1 and end more than a 30-year wait to see a female racing in the series.She completed a total of 26 laps in the car that claimed Aston Martin’s first podium since its return to F1 in 2021 when Sebastian Vettel finished second at that year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Speaking about her experience, Hawkins said: “I want to thank everyone on the Aston Martin F1 team for this chance. I have given everything to reach the point that I’m in. When I learned about the chance to drive this car, I couldn’t believe it. I had to keep it secret, a really hard thing. But the waiting deserved it. Nothing can be tightened up with this and seeing the telemetry I’m glad for my effort. It was a dream that came true. I want to give inspiration in other women and make them understand that they have to follow their dreams, independently of what they are.”
As part of her preparation for the drive, Hawkins has spent many hours driving in Aston Martin’s simulator. In 2022 she finished ninth place in the now-defunct W Series and this year has increased her involvement with Aston Martin, attending several races over the season. The last woman to drive an F1 car in an event prior to Hawkins was Tatiana Calderon, who completed a test for Sauber back in 2018. It marks another key step in the ongoing attempts to afford more opportunities to woman drivers in F1, with the addition of a female driver on the grid hopefully not too far away.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
*Crosses fingers *
"Not bloody Rosberg. Not bloody Rosberg..."
*Lights candle to Beelzebub *
1%er
Well-Known Member
Alpine settle on new F1 team principal after Szafnauer departure
Alpine have reportedly confirmed Bruno Famin as their permanent team principal to replace Otmar Szafnauer, after a difficult year for the team on-track and a summer of upheaval at Enstone. Famin was placed in temporary charge of Alpine after a cull at the top level, with CEO Laurent Rossi, sporting director Alan Permane and chief technical officer Pat Fry following Szafnauer out of the team.Famin‘s full-time appointment was reported by L’Equipe after Renault CEO Luca de Meo visited Enstone, and comes just days after Famin had hinted the search for a new F1 chief had slowed. “I have no delay, because I don’t want to be under pressure,” Famin told the media at the Japanese GP. “For the time being I’m assessing everything. I think the changes I’ve seen so far are quite good.”
Famin had also reassured fans that he’s pleased with the job Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have done in 2023, despite the challenges. After finishing fourth in the 2022 constructors’ championship, by a not-insignificant 14 points to McLaren, Alpine have been leapfrogged by both their Woking rivals and Aston Martin in 2023. So far they sit sixth having managed less than half of McLaren‘s points total and just over a third of Aston Martin‘s, often finding themselves stuck in no-man’s land at the tail end of the top 10. They’ve even managed two podiums plus a sprint top-three, all richly deserved, but have also failed to finish nine grand prix.
Ocon and Gasly joined forces for the 2023 season against the backdrop of a bitter feud from karting that had reportedly continued to all the way to F1, but have been a solid driver pairing aside from colliding at the Australian Grand Prix. “On the track side, as I said, I’m very happy with the drivers the job they are doing the spirit we have,” Famin added. “Of course, the main point will be now to really see how we can get the same kind of spirit in the factories. And that’s really the point I’m focusing on. It’s not a question of [a] person, it’s a question of having all the people together.”
1%er
Well-Known Member
Andretti partner ‘already recruiting F1-known personnel’ for project
Andretti’s partner, General Motors, has already begun a management recruitment drive which has included the hiring of “F1-known personnel” amid their ongoing bid to enter F1. General Motors are currently making budget provisions for the construction of an F1 engine and could even divert resources from their World Endurance Championship programme with Cadillac to the F1 project, according to Auto Motor und Sport.The German publication also reports that the American car giant has already “recruited F1-known personnel for the management positions”. Andretti Formula Racing’s bid to enter F1 with General Motors’ Cadillac brand was given the green light by motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, on Monday. According to AMuS, an EU directive effectively made it impossible for the FIA to reject Andretti.
But Andretti must now await approval from F1’s American owners Liberty Media before they can officially become the 11th team on the grid. The assessment period is likely to last months and F1 is widely expected to reject Andretti’s bid, the BBC report. Andretti’s quest to join the F1 grid has so far been met with a mixed response from the sport’s bosses and existing teams.
Bingoman
Well-Known Member
If they do get the green light to join the grid what year will they start?
1%er
Well-Known Member
I'd have thought 2026 with the new power unit rules, but they have loads of money and could join as soon as 2025 and give themselves a year to perpare for the new rules. The cars aero will not change much in 2026 only the power unit will be the big change.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Has Lawrence Stroll just solved his Aston Martin F1 team’s driver problem?
The arrival of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie into the World Endurance Championship may give Lawrence Stroll the chance to shuffle his son out of the F1 team. On Wednesday, Aston Martin confirmed that they will enter the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA championship with ‘at least one’ prototype Valkyrie as the British manufacturer enters the Hypercar class of the highest level of sportscar racing. Aside from being a continuation of the aggressive approach to motorsport and marketing that Lawrence Stroll has embarked upon since buying into Aston Martin Lagonda, the move may also give the businessman an easy way to save face when it comes to his son, Lance.Lance Stroll’s underperformance a headache for Aston Martin
There are only so many ways that the performance of Lance Stroll in 2023 can be sugarcoated or explained away due to extraneous circumstances – regardless of the heroics he performed to make sure he actually took part in the full season following his pre-season injuries, the Canadian driver has been something of a lead weight around his team’s neck. It’s not through lack of trying or perseverance – Stroll’s efforts to race and improve command respect and kudos, particularly in light of the surgeries he went through in order to race, blinking through the pain, in Bahrain.
But, paired with one of the sport’s all-time greats, Stroll’s level as a solid but unspectacular driver has been directly exposed and, faced with such a realisation, the Canadian driver has struggled to cope in a way he didn’t when paired with a mentally retired Sebastian Vettel. Looking at the facts, Fernando Alonso has scored 174 points for Aston Martin as a newcomer to the team with seven podiums from 16 races. He is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship and, in the early stages of the year, looked capable of fighting for the runner-up spot before the AMR23 was out-developed.
In contrast, Stroll has scored just 47 points in the same 16 race weekends, just over a quarter of Alonso’s points tally. That’s despite him having plenty of experience with the team, and with the characteristics of their car design. His best result remains fourth place in Australia, in what was actually a pretty strong start to the season for the Canadian alongside Alonso. But Stroll has assumed the same relative position in the midfield that he always has, despite Alonso showing the AMR23 is – or, at least, was – a much more competitive beast than the team’s last couple of cars. It’s led to an incredibly one-sided effort from the team in the Constructors’ Championship, with Alonso having done his best to keep the Silverstone-based squad in the running for second overall. But, between the team’s slide in performance, and the fact only one car has consistently scored points, Aston Martin have been overcome by Mercedes and Ferrari, and will likely fall to McLaren over the remaining six races as well.
With two Lance Strolls, Aston Martin would be sixth in the championship with 94 points, and just 10 points clear of Alpine – the Enstone team themselves going through something of an annus horribilis. With two Fernando Alonsos, Aston Martin would be second in the Constructors’ and 43 points clear of Mercedes – a hugely significant result that would underline the genuine step forward the team made this year.
Aston Martin WEC programme gives Lawrence and Lance Stroll the ideal out
At any other team, Stroll’s performance would be torn apart, their future bleak, with plenty of finger-pointing. Can you imagine Red Bull, McLaren, or Mercedes accepting such a state of affairs? But grin and bear it Aston Martin must, with team boss Mike Krack and performance director Tom McCullough frequently pointing to sheer bad luck as being Stroll’s deficit, and not just a lack of speed. It’s a truly awkward position to be in, given their obvious desire to improve but having that tempered by having to put up with a nepotistic appointment that is now actively holding the team back. An appointment that shows no sign of ending, given the contract of indefinite duration Lance has with his father’s team.
The performance levels of his son won’t have been lost on Lawrence, and it’s truly fascinating to observe from an external viewpoint how such a ruthlessly successful businessman has been willing to throw money at a very serious F1 effort, only to actively hinder the project through hiring a competent-if-underwhelming family member and then have that shortcoming so painfully exposed. But, if Stroll has been waiting to see if Lance can pull up his socks to start matching Fernando more closely, setting up another high-profile project that will need an exemplary – if not F1-level – driver may give the Stroll family exactly the out they need to change things up without losing face.
For now, the sportscar project – which will see Aston Martin represented by IMSA entrants Heart of Racing as they step up to the plate in WEC and IMSA – remains on course to begin the racing programme in 2025. Just enough time to either give Lance another chance in another car in 2024, or even pull the plug and make a change over the coming winter. Given that it can all be handled internally under Lawrence, what’s to stop Aston Martin from creating the one big driver market move over the winter by simply announcing Lance is withdrawing from F1 with immediate effect in order to concentrate on the WEC programme? It’s the perfect opportunity to save face for all involved.
Make no mistake, while Lance may not be an F1 elite, he is more than capable of being a top-drawer endurance sportscar driver and switching discipline to be the face of the WEC programme would be seen as a side-step rather than a demotion. Aston Martin gets a top-level driver, Lawrence doesn’t have to admit his mistake as well as keep his son employed, and the F1 team shareholders will be happy about the fact there’s the chance to hire someone more fitting alongside Alonso. For now, it’s just pie-in-the-sky thinking, but just salivate at the thoughts of Aston Martin coaxing an increasingly antsy Sebastian Vettel back to the car he walked away from just as it came good. Or 2023 sensation Liam Lawson being loaned out by Red Bull to get some proper racing experience, or 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich finally getting an opportunity to impress in the big leagues.
Of course, the announcement of the WEC programme does raise a pertinent question, given Lance’s position. Was the entry of the Valkyrie always going to happen under Lawrence, or has it been created specifically to give Lance a seat and out of the way in F1?
1%er
Well-Known Member
Ferrari’s British hot prospect confirmed for F1 debut with Haas
Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman will take his first steps in the world of Formula 1 by contesting the FP1 sessions in Mexico and Abu Dhabi with Haas. The 18-year-old Brit has established himself as one of the brightest prospects on the junior racing scene, having claimed four race wins so far in his rookie Formula 2 campaign in 2023 with Prema. And as Bearman battles for a potential top-three finish in the final F2 standings, his efforts have done enough to catch the attention of Ferrari and Haas.Oliver Bearman set for FP1 outings with Haas
Each team must run a rookie driver, that being a racer with two or fewer grands prix of experience, in two FP1 sessions during the season, with Bearman getting the nod to represent Haas in Mexico and the season-ender in Abu Dhabi. Reacting to the news, Bearman said: “I am so happy to be joining MoneyGram Haas F1 Team driving in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. Getting to Formula 1 has been my dream since I was go-karting so to be driving a car for the first time this year is really special. I’m grateful to the team, and of course Ferrari, for allowing me this chance. I’m working hard to make sure I’m ready to support the team as best I can on both occasions.”
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner added: “We’re very [fucking] happy to offer Oliver Bearman these outings in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. He’s had a [fucking] stellar rookie season in Formula 2, four wins is testament to that, and as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy – we know his background preparation coming into these weekends will be [fucking] first-rate. We look forward to welcoming Oliver into the team and have him drive the VF-23.” Bearman will be pulling double duty in Abu Dhabi, with this FP1 outing coinciding with the final round of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Lawrence Stroll is interested in selling Aston Martin
Lawrence Stroll is considering selling his shares of Aston Martin and therefore the Formula 1 team to a Saudi sovereign wealth fund, according to speculation. Oil giant Aramco is said to be leading the negotiations for the sale, reports F1 - Insider.com.Stroll would be considering selling Aston Martin
The circus of F1 barely reached the Losail International Circuit and the rumors have already returned in full force. This time, the focus is on Lawrence Stroll, which, according to inside information, is planning to sell its Aston Martin shares to a newly created Saudi sovereign wealth fund. It is said that negotiations are led by the team sponsor, Aramco. The purchase price: EUR 800 million. Stroll, whose fortune is estimated at $3.2 billion by Forbes, reportedly has no motivation to commit to his son Lance Stroll’s career in F1 for longer, according to sources. This would have all to do with the attitude of the 24-year-old driver, who drives in the shadow of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. In addition, his mother would no longer be interested in his motorsport career after he suffered a series of serious accidents in the 2023 season.
"Stroll has always been unmotivated"
Someone who wouldn’t be surprised if the Canadian pilot gave up soon is compatriot Jacques Villeneuve, who has long lived alongside the Stroll family in Montreal. "Lawrence built his own go-kart track for his son, who was just a 15-minute walk from the house. Even so, Lance would walk the helicopter distance every day," said the 1997 world champion. Another person from within the team, who allegedly held a position of head on the team, told a similar story. “Father and son came to our factory once to take a look. I have never seen such an interested father and such a disinterested son," he said.
Marko: "Student doesn't go to Aston Martin"
Therefore, there is already much speculation about the possible successor of Lance Stroll. As Honda will supply engines to the team from 2026, Yuki Tsunoda seems to be a logical option. However, Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko warns that the Japanese is linked to AlphaTauri. “Student has a contract with us. If Aston Martin had already been interested in him next year, they would have to reach an agreement with us first,” Marko said.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Red Bull fire huge warning after FIA decision
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko is insistent that Andretti joining Formula 1 isn’t good for the sport, due to believing that some circuits won’t have room for an 11th team in the pit-lane. It was recently announced by the FIA that they’d granted Andretti permission to enter F1, with it now being down to the sport itself to make the final decision. Only McLaren and Alpine have spoken in favour of the American outfit joining the grid, with others having concerns over the prize fund being divided 11 ways instead of 10. In Marko’s eyes, Andretti joining would also decrease the value of every team currently on the grid, something he insists “nobody wants”.The 80-year-old has also questioned where exactly Andretti would fit in the pit-lane at certain venues, with the Austrian noting that some are already “maxed out in terms of space”. One option would be for teams to reduce the size of their hospitality suites but again, Marko is adamant that the current teams won’t want that to happen. “An eleventh team means that not only does each team have to give away more of the money pie, but also that the value of each individual team falls,” Marko told F1-Insider.com. “Of course, nobody wants that. Most race tracks are maxed out in terms of space. Where are you supposed to put an additional team in the already very narrow pit lanes? In the paddock, you would probably have to reduce the size of the hospitalities. But the teams are not interested in that.”
The FIA and F1 are in a real battle currently, with the two not seeing eye-to-eye. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has insisted that F1 has room for two more teams, whereas F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali isn’t keen on the grid expanding beyond 10 teams. With the governing body having gotten involved in the way they have, one of F1-Insider’s sources fear that it could result in a trip to court. “Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are like cats and dogs,” F1-Insider’s unnamed source said. “The dispute about a possible entry of the Andretti team could now cause the spark to explode. There will be a power struggle. It could also end in a court battle lasting many years. The loser will be the sport.”
1%er
Well-Known Member
Tensions mount between Alpine’s French and English employees
It’s been reported that Alpine’s French and English employees aren’t on good terms, with the Enstone-based team continuing to find themselves in a “complicated and messy” situation. Alpine have endured a turbulent season in which they have actually made two rostrum appearances, with off-circuit incidents having overshadowed their campaign so far. It all really ignited at the Belgian Grand Prix, where Otmar Szafnauer was dramatically sacked as team principal, whilst long-serving employee Alan Permane was removed from his sporting director role and asked to leave.Neither supposedly agreed with Alpine’s plans for the future, with Szafnauer having reportedly not viewed Alpine’s bosses’ targets as realistic. To try and settle the team’s situation, Renault CEO Luca de Meo held a video conference with the entire team, across their two bases in Enstone, UK, and Viry, France. According to Motorsport-Total, De Meo announced that interim boss Bruno Famin had been given Szafnauer’s old position on a permanent basis, whilst he reassured the team that if they were prepared to work towards the future and forget about the side’s old way of doing things, then they’d retain their jobs.
However, it’s been reported by Last Word on Sports that Alpine’s current divide between their French and English employees is so vast that they refuse to stay in the same hotel on race weekends. As well as this, they sit on different tables when eating and are in two clearly different groups. Former Ferrari and Williams team manager Peter Windsor is one of many who’s unsure on what exactly Alpine are trying to do currently, with him believing that Szafnauer wasn’t given very long. “For me, it’s quite surprising that they’ve got rid of Otmar because he hasn’t been there very long,” Windsor said on his YouTube channel. “As I said before, for me, he’s always been quite well integrated with BWT and I would have thought that, you know, that would have been a factor, but it’s obviously not.”
Alpine’s new “regime” clearly has a very different way of doing things and are wanting the team to be fighting for victories; however, their approach so far has left the French side in a spot of bother both on and off the circuit. “You know, the new regime apparently said that he was going to stay on as a team principal and then two weeks later [they] changed their mind,” Windsor added. “So, it looks pretty…I don’t know if ‘not serious’ is the right way to describe it, but it looks very complicated and messy, doesn’t it?”
