Former F1 boss makes damning cost cap claim against huge team
Former F1 boss makes damning cost cap claim against huge team
Former F1 team boss Otmar Szafnauer has revealed that Alpine were well below the cost cap when he assumed control of the Enstone based outfit.
Alpine have struggled to deliver according to their long-term visions of the last few years, lapping consistently in the middle of the Formula 1 pack.
The odd good result has outlined their potential, such as Esteban Ocon’s win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, but the team remain held back due to a number of reasons.
An under-performing engine and continuous staff changes have failed to provide Alpine with the stable platform required to compete with the top teams in the sport.
Otmar Szanauer now recalls the situation at the team after he joined in 2022, which left him with plenty of room to adjust the team’s structure.
READ MORE: FIA confirms which F1 teams breached 2022 cost cap
Szafnauer: We were not at the cap
“Yes, but that assumes you’re already at the cap,” he told Peter Windsor on his YouTube channel about Alpine’s situation. “If you’re not, then there’s headroom to hire. Which we had at Alpine because we were not at the cap.
“So, when I got there, we were double-digit millions below the cap, so we had headroom to hire.
“I always had the philosophy of you shouldn’t make change for the sake of change,” he said. “You need to have a good understanding and make change in areas that you know are going to be better because you’re changing them, and that’s exactly what I did at Alpine.
“So, I took some time, understood the areas that were lacking, and then started making changes. When I got there, there was no separate aero performance group for example.
“But by the time I left, I recruited a new head of that group, separated it from the aerodynamics group, and then started recruiting people underneath. That’s just one example.”
Alpine face an uphill task to improve in 2024 but are fortunate to have a talented French duo at the helm in the form of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
Both have proven F1 experience and know what direction the car needs to go in to become quicker after spending a season together.
READ MORE: Horner reveals Red Bull cost cap breach BENEFIT to 2024 F1 development
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Incredible Verstappen exit clause reignites F1 rival talks as Mercedes milestone reveals shock RED livery
- 1 hour ago
Horner outlines Ricciardo target to save F1 dream as major Newey announcement made - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
- Yesterday 22:57
Ricciardo makes five-race admission in bid to survive F1 axe
- Yesterday 21:57
Red Bull is 'burning' after Horner and Marko display
- Yesterday 20:57
Red Bull announce strong statement over Newey departure claims
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
F1 boss delivers team SALE verdict with new targets set
F1 pundit slams 'EMBARRASSING' team and predicts driver exodus
F1 team announce shock RESIGNATION of two key figures
F1 team boss issues BRUTAL put down for star driver
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860