4 Days After Alpine Broke Honorable Promise, Otmar Szafnauer Left ‘Worried’ Amid Emotional State of Affairs

100 races. That’s how long the Renault and Alpine management gave Otmar Szafnauer to get the team back to the front of the grid. That’s the promise Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group, made Szafnauer—that they’ll give him 100 races to prove himself after Szafnauer joined Enstone 18 months ago. Considering Alpine let him go on the eve of the Belgian GP 4 days ago, Szafnauer couldn’t even reach the 40-race mark before de Meo broke his promise. And while Szafnauer wasn’t too affected personally—given he’s already looking for a new role—the team he built around him sure was heartbroken.

Szafnauer’s tenure at Alpine ended on Monday. Before he left the paddock after Sunday’s race, the team bid an emotional farewell to their now-former team principal. In an interview with Motorsport.com before his departure, they asked him how he felt about leaving Alpine. He replied, “For me personally, I’ll be alright, and I’m fine. It’s just my worry is for all the wonderful men and women at Enstone and Viry that work hard and do a good job. I hope their future is bright.”

During his time at Alpine, Szafnauer hired new people and ensured the ones already there grew along with the team. He continued, “I was just getting into my stride, starting to know everybody, how to motivate them. You know, a high tide lifts all boats, and I was just getting to the point where I was raising the tide.” It became clear that the team he built around him was sad to see him leave. “There were people, not me so much, but people crying and saying goodbye. I told them, ‘Look, I’m still alive, I didn’t die! I’ll be alright,'” added the American.

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Considering Alpine broke its promise, it isn’t surprising Szafnauer wasn’t too emotional while leaving. But the fact that he still expressed his worry about the team he’s leaving behind shows what an impact he made. Despite Alpine’s actions, it could be possible that Szafnauer had already found a new role. But that didn’t stop him from expressing his disregard before leaving.

Otmar Szafnauer shot Alpine a powerful message before possibly moving on to “greener” pastures

In reference to what Szafnauer said about just getting into his stride at Alpine, he said in a different interview, “The reality is that changes take time. I signed some good people from other teams, but they are still stuck in their contracts and won’t come until 2024 or join the team in 2025. It takes time for people to come, and it takes time for people to work together correctly. I always say: You can’t get nine women pregnant and hope you have a baby in a month.”

After sending Alpine management this strong message, Szafnauer attended another interview where he was caught slightly off guard. The interviewer said, “You were just spotted entering the Aston Martin guest house.” Seeing how the green Aston Martin squad had been his home for quite some time before he joined Alpine, going back might be an option he’s willing to explore. But Szafnauer didn’t reveal anything and simply said, “I will not comment.”

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Following his departure from Alpine after making a mark, do you think Otmar Szafnauer will return to Aston Martin?