Alpine staff principal Oliver Oakes has responded to feedback from Otmar Szafnauer hitting out on the Renault management, asserting his Method 1 staff is “very fortunate to have that assist”.
Szafnauer was Alpine’s staff principal from February 2022 to July 2023. They subsequently parted methods as a result of American and Renault CEO Luca de Meo disagreeing on the staff’s timeline for achievement, as a number of key figures from the squad have been proven the door.
On the time, Alpine was following a 100-race plan launched by Laurent Rossi, then Alpine CEO, in October 2021 “to achieve a degree of competitiveness that locations us on the rostrum as many instances as attainable in 2024” earlier than reaching the entrance of the grid the following 12 months – which Szafnauer felt was too bold, reckoning success was attainable on the long run.
Seventy-four grands prix have taken place because the now-abandoned 100-race plan was launched, and Alpine achieved simply 4 top-eight finishes in 2024 – together with its sensational double podium on the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Requested in April 2024 whether or not Renault understood what it took to achieve success in F1, Szafnauer retorted: “Not from what I noticed.
“I believe the most effective factor, and never simply Renault however for giant automotive corporations to do – and I’ve seen it lots, even with automotive corporations which have racing as a part of their DNA: they should not meddle. Go away it! It is a lot totally different from a automotive firm, you need to simply depart it to the consultants.”
Otmar Szafnauer, Workforce Principal, Alpine F1 Workforce
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Oakes, who took up the staff principal mantle after interim boss Bruno Famin departed in August 2024, acknowledged there have been ‘components of fact’ in Szafnauer’s opinion however nonetheless defended the Renault management’s strategy.
“What I’d say is that it is not at all times one dimension matches all,” Oakes advised Motorsport.com in an unique interview.
“I believe it is honest to say that components of it are true – and he is a very good mate, he is been right here earlier than – however I believe folks must also keep in mind who pays the payments and who helps the staff. And from my perspective, we’re very fortunate to have that assist.
“It is simple to at all times level the finger at any individual who’s ‘meddling’, however typically you need to ask your self, nicely, why have they got to become involved? Is it as a result of we’re not dealing with the stuff? Is it as a result of we actually have taken our eye off the ball? You may get pissed off at first, however then you definitely step again and also you say, ‘Truly, we most likely ought to have executed that higher, however we did not wish to hear that.’
“I do not suppose there’s any want to cover issues. I do not suppose there’s any must preserve them at arm’s size. I believe on the finish of the day now we have to work collectively. We now have to construct that belief. F1 is a fancy enterprise, as is the automotive world, and you may’t get it proper on a regular basis. I believe clearly what’s occurred earlier than – everybody has their views, their opinions.
“From my aspect, possibly issues are a bit totally different now. Possibly Luca has extra direct contact with me and Flavio [Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor since May 2024]. Possibly the staff has needed to hit a little bit of all-time low to reset. I do not know. On the finish of the day none of that’s stopping you from making a very good race automotive.”
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
Oakes is now tackling his first full season on the helm of the Alpine squad and can be forgiven for any sense of trepidation after the outfit modified staff principals in every of the final 4 years.
“All people says to me, do you’re feeling it like a weight in your shoulders or a stress? And I actually see it in another way,” the Briton insisted. “There isn’t any grasp plan. There isn’t any stuff that is been mentioned earlier than, ‘100 races’ and all that. We simply need to get higher. We now have to be a well-run staff.
“And I believe we simply need to deal with ourselves. And even with all of the noise concerning the energy unit and all of the speak about promoting and all that type of garbage, I believe folks have already seen that we’re simply not likely going to be bothered by that anymore. We’re simply going to maintain our heads down.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Ben Vinel
Method 1
Alpine
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