Alpine to part ways with Szafnauer and Permane after Belgian GP!

© XPB 

Alpine has announced that it will part ways with current team principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-standing sporting director Alan Permane after this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

The Enstone squad says that both Szafbauer and Permane will assume their normal duties this weekend at Spa ahead of their exit from the team – by mutual agreement according to Alpine – after the race weekend.

"The team would like to thank Otmar for his hard work over the past 18 months and for leading the team in achieving fourth place in the 2022 Constructors' Championship," Alpine said in a statement released on Friday.

"The team wishes him the best for the future.

"Alan will also continue his role this weekend in Belgium before departing ahead of the summer break. After 34 distinguished years at Enstone, the team extends its thanks to Alan and wishes him the best in his future endeavours."

Alpine also confirmed that chief technical officer Pat Fry will also leave the team, with the Briton moving to Williams where he will assume the role of technical director for the Grove-based squad.

Bruno Famin, VP, Alpine Motorsports, will assume the role of Interim Team Principal of BWT Alpine F1 Team from the Dutch Grand Prix onwards.

Current Alpine Academy Director Julian Rouse is named Interim Sporting Director, with Matt Harman leading the technical team at Enstone. Both men will report to Bruno Famin.

Alpine's wholesale changes, which equate to either a proper implosion or a revolution, have come in the wake of an upper management reshuffling that first saw Famin, the man at the helm of Renault's F1 engine department in Viry-Châtillon, take over Alpine's sporting activities.

However, shortly after, Alpine CEO Laurent CEO was replaced by Philippe Krief, the French manufacturer's vice president of engineering and product performance.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter