Otmar Szafnauer - out, who's in?
Discussion
Seems a little crazy to me, Szafnauer kept that team punching above its weight for a long time, maybe the speed of progress wasn't enough to keep Lawrence happy? Can't see how brining someone new in is going to pay dividends, maybe longer term, but much longer term.
Of course maybe Szafnauer didn't like the new owners much so went looking for a change, I'm assuming he'll now pop up at Alpine as was speculated about a few months back.
Of course maybe Szafnauer didn't like the new owners much so went looking for a change, I'm assuming he'll now pop up at Alpine as was speculated about a few months back.
Apparantly Otmar's off to Alpine.
Otmar and Larry didn't seem to be on the same page last year, particularly with Larry going on the offensive regarding technical regs as the sole basis of hindering his team's performance in 2021. On the other hand Otmar seemed exasperated with his boss and just wanted to persevere with the rest of the season than toe the party line.
Otmar and Larry didn't seem to be on the same page last year, particularly with Larry going on the offensive regarding technical regs as the sole basis of hindering his team's performance in 2021. On the other hand Otmar seemed exasperated with his boss and just wanted to persevere with the rest of the season than toe the party line.
Otmar was not the technical director
The engineers and TD should have been able to pull Aston Martin out of the slump via development and solutions.
Afterall, both they and Mercedes had the same problems at the beginning - the low rake issue - yet Mercedes overcame it totally by Spain but Aston never did.
This shows a lack of engineering depth and talent within the team and a total lack of understanding of their "own" car.
Look at the ingredients
2019 Mercedes chassis
2020 Mercedes rear end
2021 Mercedes engine package
....and they still couldnt put it together.
The engineers and TD should have been able to pull Aston Martin out of the slump via development and solutions.
Afterall, both they and Mercedes had the same problems at the beginning - the low rake issue - yet Mercedes overcame it totally by Spain but Aston never did.
This shows a lack of engineering depth and talent within the team and a total lack of understanding of their "own" car.
Look at the ingredients
2019 Mercedes chassis
2020 Mercedes rear end
2021 Mercedes engine package
....and they still couldnt put it together.
It occurred to me that I know little about Szafnauer. Just seemed to be one of these 'tech' people that start appearing on the telly during races and assumed him to have been shoehorned in by a manufacturer at some point. Apparently not! He's been in F1 since the late 90s, former would-be racer himself and appears to have a solid record. Who knew? Not me!
StevieBee said:
It occurred to me that I know little about Szafnauer. Just seemed to be one of these 'tech' people that start appearing on the telly during races and assumed him to have been shoehorned in by a manufacturer at some point. Apparently not! He's been in F1 since the late 90s, former would-be racer himself and appears to have a solid record. Who knew? Not me!
His Grill the Grid interview was pretty interesting: https://youtu.be/3d2ZSrOhyg4I've always liked him; hoping the El Plan rumours are true; otherwise for him to pop up somewhere else in the paddock.
Schermerhorn said:
Otmar was not the technical director
The engineers and TD should have been able to pull Aston Martin out of the slump via development and solutions.
Afterall, both they and Mercedes had the same problems at the beginning - the low rake issue - yet Mercedes overcame it totally by Spain but Aston never did.
This shows a lack of engineering depth and talent within the team and a total lack of understanding of their "own" car.
Look at the ingredients
2019 Mercedes chassis
2020 Mercedes rear end
2021 Mercedes engine package
....and they still couldnt put it together.
This is not really that fair as they probably got a load of mystery bits and somehow had to figure them out.The engineers and TD should have been able to pull Aston Martin out of the slump via development and solutions.
Afterall, both they and Mercedes had the same problems at the beginning - the low rake issue - yet Mercedes overcame it totally by Spain but Aston never did.
This shows a lack of engineering depth and talent within the team and a total lack of understanding of their "own" car.
Look at the ingredients
2019 Mercedes chassis
2020 Mercedes rear end
2021 Mercedes engine package
....and they still couldnt put it together.
Before they were making their own car and knew what everything did.
This is probably why snafhauser left as he was fed up being told by Stroll his teams will succeed by just being part fitters.
parabolica said:
Marcin Budkowski is out at Alpine; looks like the rumour’s we’re true. I’d expect them to announce Otmar very soon. Be interesting to see if Marcin finds somewhere else in the Paddock; he’s another good team principal imo.
Back to the FIA? Wonder if there's a race director role up for grabs 
ajprice said:
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