Former Alpine and Aston Martin Crew Principal Otmar Szafnaeur has revealed what occurred with Oscar Piastri’s Alpine contact which led to the workforce lacking out on the Australian. Szanfanuer left the workforce in 2023 after becoming a member of the workforce in 2022.
Szafnauer had ‘nothing to do’ with Piastri’s contract
Talking on the Excessive Efficiency Podcast, former Alpine workforce principal Otmar Szafnauer has claimed he had no management over the workforce lacking out on the Australian’s signature. “I had completely nothing to do with not signing Oscar Piastri appropriately. That mistake was made in November [2021]. I began in March [2022]. In November, the Piastri contract was meant to be signed. It was by no means signed. I began [in] March, I had no thought. They did not submit the CRB [Contract Recognition Board] paperwork appropriately and by no means signed a contract with them.” Szafnauer claimed.
Piastri was an Alpine academy driver earlier than becoming a member of McLaren. Alpine introduced that Piastri would drive for the workforce in 2023 to interchange Fernando Alonso earlier than Piastri introduced himself he wouldn’t be driving for Alpine. This led to court docket hearings and contract disputes between Alpine and McLaren, because the Woking-based workforce additionally believed that they had signed the Australian.
“Come the CRB the place Alpine misplaced as a result of the filings have been incorrectly achieved,” the previous workforce boss continued, “We put out a press launch and the press launch has my picture on it.“So, primary, nothing to do with me – I wasn’t even there – however, quantity two, the communications division that didn’t report back to me thought it was a good suggestion to deflect the incompetency of those that have been Alpine on the time by placing my image on the discharge.”
‘No management over your complete workforce’
Szafnauer additionally claimed that he had no management over your complete workforce, one thing he wasn’t conscious of earlier than becoming a member of Alpine. “I didn’t have management over your complete workforce. So, for instance, I knew right away, HR didn’t report back to me. [They] reported up by France. The finance workplace didn’t report back to me. They reported up by France. The communications division didn’t report back to me, and the advertising and marketing group, industrial didn’t report back to me, and that in itself I knew was going to be problematic.
“No, I wasn’t conscious. Earlier than I took the job, it was ‘everyone’s reporting to me’ – I get there and that’s not the case. And I knew initially… I assumed I may handle it, however I knew it’s problematic.” Szafnauer concluded.
