Jordan: Disgraceful Alpine ‘got rid of Szafnauer prematurely’

Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan believes Alpine committed a massive blunder last year by parting ways with experienced team principal Otmar Szafnauer, and insists the team is currently in a "disgraceful" state unable to provide its drivers with the equipment worthy of their talent.

Alpine endured a disruptive summer last season when the team’s management underwent significant changes following a succession of decisions by parent company Renult’s top brass.

In July 2023, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was sidelined from the team, a move that was followed shortly after by the exits after the Belgian Grand Prix of Szafnauer and Alpine sporting director Alan Permane.

Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry also decided to depart Alpine, citing a crucial lack of ambition within the team.

These departures left a significant leadership void within Alpine. To fill the gap, Renault CEO Luca de Meo appointed Bruno Famin as interim team principal, a role that has since become permanent for the Frenchman.

The overall sentiment was that these changes ushered in a "new mindset" within the team, with Famin believing it would lead to a more ambitious and competitive future for Alpine.

• Read also: Jordan criticizes Haas for lack of winning ‘aspirations’

Fast forward six months, and Alpine’s situation is anything but encouraging, with the French outfit failing to put a single point on the board in F1's curtain-raiser Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia last time out.

Worse, more disruption has weighed on the team with another shake-up taking place within Alpine’s engineering department following the departures of technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer.

Speaking on the Formula for Success podcast, hosts David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan exchanged notes on Alpine’s seemingly endless rut.

“Really difficult times for Alpine,” Coulthard commented. “The two drivers [Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly] have been upbeat in their response to the predicament that they find themselves in.

“I find that Alpine are faceless. I don’t know who is running the show.”

Coulthard suggested that the French outfit lacked a veritable leader to guide it towards the light.

“A lot of the Formula 1 teams, the personalities of the team principals - or the madness of the team principals, if I think of yourself - your presence was felt when you bounced down the paddock,” the Scot told Jordan.

“Don’t you think that’s part of the leadership role? It’s a personality-driven role as well as a managerial role.”

Jordan was reluctant to compare Alpine’s state of affairs with the management style he embodied at his own team almost two decades ago.

“The marketing structure that Jordan had was different to Alpine,” said the Irishman. “We had Irish music playing before qualifying!

“We had a press breakfast. We got more coverage because we fed them little stories. True or false? It didn’t matter!”

Jordan reckoned that Alpine’s management decisions last summer were misguided, especially regarding Szafnauer's tenure with the team.

“They got rid of Otmar prematurely. It was a mistake,” he said. “He was a talented person who knew how to keep that team in the right direction.

“At the moment they are the most floundering team, it is absolutely embarrassing. I find it embarrassing to watch Gasly and Ocon who are capable of winning races.

“Do I see Alpine there next year? Absolutely not. Not a chance. It’s wide open for a sale.”

Jordan also called into question Renault’s commitment to Formula 1 and to the sport’s next-generation engine regulations that are scheduled to be introduced in 2026.

“Renault have pulled back for it, they don’t want to spend the money on the engine. The engine for 2026 is such a big outlay that it’s frightening them,” he added.

“Even though the value of the team, they talk about £1 billion.

“Alpine have been disgraceful in not being able to perform for their drivers, for their team, to give them that car to compete in the championship. It’s unacceptable.

“I wouldn’t put up with it. Shocking!”

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