Otmar Szafnauer took over Alpine at the start of the 2022 season, but He left the team after 1.5 years, which did not go well. Szafnauer, who had his last race with the team at Spa-Francorchamps and thanked everyone before heading to the airport, wished Alpine the best.
"I feel good, I will continue to feel good," said Szafnauer, who gave his last interview as team principal to Motorsport.com. “I'm just concerned on behalf of all the wonderful staff at Enstone and Viry who have put in a great effort and are doing a great job. I hope their future will be bright.”
“I was getting to know everyone and learning how to motivate them,” Szafnauer said. You know, when the tide comes all the boats take off, and I was about to reach the peak of that tide.”
Szafnauer said, “I wasn't crying, but there were those who cried while saying goodbye. I turned to them and said, 'Look, I'm still alive, I'm not dead, I'll be fine,'" he said.