Ex-Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has revealed that he’s held talks with Michael Andretti over leading his eponymous team in Formula 1 if its proposal receives the green light.
Szafnauer was hired by Alpine ahead of the 2022 season, but he was ousted midway through his second year after the Anglo-French marque endured a troubled period.
Meanwhile, Andretti’s bid to become the latest entrant to the F1 grid in 2025 was approved by the FIA but remains under review with F1 amid opposition from the incumbent sides, who are concerned about a diluted prize pot with an additional team.
However, the American outfit is pressing ahead with plans in the background, which extends to the intent to test a prototype full-scale F1 model in a wind tunnel this year.
Andretti has also already assembled a technical team to oversee the development, with former Renault engineer Nick Chester in charge of fronting the nascent operation.
Speaking to Motor Sport Magazine, Szafnauer has admitted that conversations have been held in the past over the potential for him to spearhead the prospective team.
“I have had some discussions with Michael Andretti – he’d called me even before I went to Alpine and I told him I’d love to help him,” Szafnauer disclosed recently.
“They have to get the F1 entry first, because without an entry how can I help him? If they are accepted then I will be able to discuss getting involved, getting them started, getting them moving.”
Szafnauer was critical of the parent Renault company in the wake of his departure from Alpine, insisting that the board held an unrealistic timeline when it came to success.
The 59-year-old divulged that he had been in the process of welcoming engineers that he had recruited from rivals when he was dismissed after July’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Alpine slumped to a distant sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship last term, having been outdeveloped by both Aston Martin and McLaren at varying stages.
Along with Szafnauer, long-serving Sporting Director Alan Permane also parted ways from his position after a 34-year spell associated with the Enstone-based squad.
While Szafnauer has yet to return to a racing capacity, it was announced earlier this week that Permane had been appointed RB’s Racing Director with immediate effect.
The recently rebranded side, formerly known as AlphaTauri, is bidding to build on an encouraging end to last season through a closer technical collaboration with Red Bull.
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