Prost departs Alpine as management shake-up unfolds

Alpine advisor Alain Prost has followed executive director Marcin Budkowksi out the door as the French squad continues its management shake-up.

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi hinted late last season at leadership changes at Enstone and the restructuring is now in full swing.

Prost, a former Renault works driver in F1 during the 80s, took on an advisory role and ambassador with the manufacturer in 2016 before he was handed a non-executive directorship at Enstone in the summer of 2019.

However, Rossi has opted not to renew the four-time world champion's annual contract with Alpine.

Read also: Alpine and executive director Budkowski part ways

According to sources, former Aston Martin F1 CEO Otmar Szafnauer's rumored move to Alpine should soon be announced by the latter, with the American expected to lead the French outfit under Rossi's management guidance.

It's unclear however if current team manager Davide Brivio will remain in charge of operations on race weekends.

Furthermore, former Racing Point/Aston Martin sponsor BWT is also expected to follow Szafnauer to Alpine and to become one of the team's major commercial partners.

The Austrian water treatment company which enjoyed a secondary presence on Aston Martin's cars last season lo longer appears in Team Silverstone's current pool of sponsors for 2022.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.