Fernando Alonso and Otmar Szafnauer’s relationship has been iffy ever since his last season at Alpine. It was even heard on Alonso’s radio at the Brazilian GP last year where he was thankful for the fact that there’s only 1 race left with Alpine. An F1 legend has now slammed Alpine for losing a leader as Fernando Alonso’s recent rant against Otmar Szafnauer is ratified. What did the F1 legend say?

Many were shocked when Alonso decided to make a move to Aston Martin. The Spaniard explained how Otmar Szafnauer and Co’s slow contract negotiations and questions about his age & fitness were the reason he signed with Aston Martin. He further suggested that the former Alpine Boss should keep quiet as his team’s performance is nowhere near Aston Martin’s. 

Now the F1 Legend has come to agree with Fernando Alonso as he ratified the Spaniard’s rant. Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time Brazilian World Champion suggested that Alpine lost a leader when they let Fernando Alonso slip from the team. The legend explained the importance of an experienced driver in setting up a car. After all, it’s the driver’s feedback that helps connect the dots in the telemetry.

According to mybettingsites.co.uk, Emerson Fittipaldi said “It’s possible that when they lost Fernando, they lost a leader in setting up the car. The lack of a driver like Fernando can help develop the car and make it competitive. It doesn’t matter how much telemetry you have, the driver still has the feeling. Finish testing, finish qualifying, finish the grand prix and he still has the mind to analyze where he was losing time and where the car is weak and can be improved.”

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Fittipaldi emphasized that telemetry, data, and analytics can only do so much and that a driver’s feedback is still very important when it comes to developing an F1 car. Otmar Szafnauer is no longer with Alpine as the team looks for a new Team Principal. Szafnauer himself is looking for another team with Mattia Binotto linked to Alpine.

As Otmar Szafnauer looks for a new home, Mattia Binotto is linked to Alpine

Otmar Szafnauer was spotted at the Aston Martin guest house during the Belgian GP weekend. Szafnauer called the Silverstone-based team his home for many years. It isn’t unlikely that the former Alpine TP will join Aston Martin. Mattia Binotto on the other hand is linked to Alpine with many suggesting that the possibility for the move is very high.

According to F1inGenerale, Martin Brundle said, “Binotto has a lot of experience in the Ferrari system. He knows how to run a Formula 1 team. Obviously, it didn’t work in Ferrari, otherwise, it would still be there. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it was announced.”

What do you think? Did Alpine really lose out when they let Fernando Alonso go?

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