F1 | Alpine, Szafnauer: “Alonso is among the best riders I have worked with”

2022 brought an important professional change for Otmar Szafnauer who, after 12 years, said goodbye to Aston Martin (first called Force India and later Racing Point) to join Alpine. Where he continues to play the role of team principal, sharing spaces with a champion like Fernando Alonso.

The American manager, who during his career has already had the opportunity to work with world champions such as Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastian Vettel, admitted that he was particularly impressed by the Spaniard.

"He's at the top, among the best I've worked with – said Szafnauer, quoted by Formula 1.com – He is really very quick at knowing the tracks, giving good feedback and adapting to different scenarios and situations on the track. And he is also an amazing driver, like others I have worked with, who leaves no stone unturned. He wants maximum performance from himself and the car, only by doing that do you have a better chance on the track. In this he is very similar to Sebastian".

Szafnauer, continuing his analysis of Alonso, added: “I think he motivates people differently than Seb. But everyone has their own personality, their own technique. As long as we put the blame aside and just work on the problem and solve the problem, that's what it's all about".