F1 boss SACKED as three officials culled after dismal start to world championship

FORMULA ONE team Alpine have axed team boss Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane – halfway through the Belgian GP.

The Oxfordshire-based team are in chaos having replaced CEO Laurent Rossi earlier this month.

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Otmar Szafnauer has been axed from his role of Alpine F1 Team PrincipalCredit: GETTY

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The German has been axed after Alpine’s slip down the Constructor’s standingsCredit: REX

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Team Alpine are in disarray after Szafnauer’s exitCredit: REUTERS

The team say both have left by mutual agreement and will cease working for the team after Sunday’s GP.

An excerpt of a statement read: “BWT Alpine F1 Team announces today it will part ways with Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer by mutual agreement following the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix.

Otmar will continue his duties as normal for this weekend’s race in Belgium, before leaving the team ahead of the summer break.

“The team would like to thank Otmar for his hard work over the past 18 months and for leading the team in achieving fourth place in the 2022 Constructors’ Championship.

“The team wishes him the best for the future.”

Szafnauer has been in charge for 18 months having previously been at Aston Martin, while Permane has served at the Enstone team for 34 years.

Bruno Famin will take the role of interim team principal with former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto expected to land the job in due course.

Williams, meanwhile, have poached Pat Fry from Alpine and appointed the experienced designer as their new chief technical officer.

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Fry had considerable success at McLaren and joined Alpine in February 2020 as chassis technical director before being promoted to chief technical officer.

The F1 season resumes on Sunday afternoon with the Belgium Grand Prix from Spa-Francorchamps.

Defending champion Max Verstappen currently leads the standings, with Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso in fourth.

Seven-time champion and Brit Lewis Hamilton is fourth in the Drivers’ standings.

Hamilton started on pole for last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix but finished behind Verstappen, Lando Norris and Perez.