Alpine has announced that it will part ways with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer by mutual agreement after this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Long-time Sporting Director Alan Permane will also vacate his role, with Alpine also confirming that Pat Fry is departing to take up a new technical role at a rival team.
It was swiftly revealed that Fry would be heading to Williams to become the Grove team’s new Chief Technical Officer.
Bruno Famin will assume the role of Interim Team Principal from the Dutch Grand Prix onwards, while Alpine Academy Director Julian Rouse has been named Interim Sporting Director.
Meanwhile, Matt Harman will lead the technical team back at Enstone in light of Fry’s sudden exit.
Szafnauer joined Alpine ahead of the 2022 season after leaving his post as team boss at Aston Martin over the previous winter.
Alpine recorded a fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship during his only full campaign at the helm, finishing only behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
However, the Anglo-French outfit began the current season poorly, prompting Laurent Rossi, the team’s then-CEO, to declare that changes would be made unless performances improved.
While the side would score a podium in Monaco shortly after courtesy of Esteban Ocon, Alpine has since been out-developed by McLaren and slumped to sixth in the standings.
Neither Ocon nor team-mate Pierre Gasly has seen the chequered flag in the previous two races, leaving the rebranded Renault squad with a total of 47 points from 11 races.
The trio of exits represents the second time in as many weeks that there has been an internal restructuring within the Alpine ranks.
“BWT Alpine F1 Team announces today it will part ways with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer by mutual agreement following the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.
“Otmar will continue his duties as normal for this weekend’s race in Belgium, before leaving the team ahead of the summer break.
“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. The team wishes him the best for the future.
“The team can also confirm it will part ways with Sporting Director Alan Permane by mutual agreement. 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.
“The team also announces that Pat Fry will leave the team to continue his career in Formula 1 elsewhere.
“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 Julian and Matt will report to Bruno Famin.”
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