General
Szafnauer responds to firm language Alpine CEO: 'I'm going to ask him'
- GPblog.com
Laurent Rossi has stirred things up within Alpine. The CEO of the French racing stable is disappointed with his team's performance and demands improvement. Rossi lashed out considerably twice via the media and although team boss Otmar Szafnauer does not know why his boss did so, he does agree that things must improve in the coming months.
At the Miami Grand Prix, Rossi even used the word "amateurism" to describe the opening weekend in Bahrain. Moreover, the Frenchman felt the Azerbaijan weekend resembled Bahrain's. Unacceptable, according to Rossi. In a major interview with the official website of motorsport's royal class, he also expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms. If things do not improve, Rossi is going to intervene before the end of the season.
Commenting to Motorsport.com, Szafnauer revealed that everyone within Alpine is doing their best to take performance to the next level. "We're very well experienced, with technicians and engineers at the highest level, and we put pressure on ourselves. So, we just have to fix it," said the team boss.
Szafnauer enters talks with Rossi
To say that the season start is not going as hoped is an understatement. Szafnauer cannot ignore that either. “It hasn't been a smooth start to the season and maybe that's why he made the comments. But I have to read it [the full story]." Why Rossi chose to seek out the media? "I have no idea and you'll have to ask him. I'll be asking him. This weekend was so busy that I haven't had a chance to discuss it.”
Alpine's goal is to finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship. Currently, the Viry-based formation is in sixth place, 64 points behind Ferrari. Coming fourth in 2023 seems all but impossible, but Rossi has no intention of axing the target.