Alpine haven’t had the start to the 2025 Formula 1 season they would have expected after a strong finish to their previous campaign.
Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon achieved a remarkable double-podium in Sao Paulo last year, playing a crucial role in the Anglo-French outfit finishing sixth in the constructors’ championship.
Jack Doohan has been brought in as Gasly’s teammate this season; however, after two race weekends, Alpine sit bottom of the standings.
Doohan is under pressure to retain his race seat, and the team’s recent history has been underpinned by frequent changes within the management structure.
Oliver Oakes is the latest team principal to lead Alpine in the paddock, with Flavio Briatore brought it to advise and oversee the operation.
Otmar Szafnauer was one of Oakes’ predecessors, and he’s talked about the pressure he was put under by Alpine’s owners, Renault, to make one driver decision that, in hindsight, would have made very little sense.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Renault wanted Otmar Szafnauer to sign Antonio Giovinazzi over Pierre Gasly for Alpine
Speaking on The Team Principal Podcast, Szafnauer was telling the story of how he came to hire Gasly from AlphaTauri and said: “So when Nyck De Vries did really well [at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix], Helmut [Marko] was happy to give him a try.
“And we swapped him for Pierre. But you can imagine I had all sorts of pressure as to who to take.
“And I was really keen to have somebody with lots of Formula 1 experience that was proven and can be quick, and Pierre proved to be all those things.”
Szafnauer was asked who Renault wanted, and he continued: “Yeah, you can imagine.
“[Antonio] Giovinazzi was one, for example. Who else was on the list? Giovinazzi was the one that I remember was wanted by Alpine.
“He was in the picture at the time.”
Antonio Giovinazzi was the last Italian to have a full-time race seat in Formula 1 before Andrea Kimi Antonelli made his debut for Mercedes at the start of the season.
He had a brief cameo with Sauber in 2017 before spending three years racing for Alfa Romeo, scoring 21 points in the process.
| Grand Prix starts | 62 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Points | 21 |
| First race | 2017 Australian GP |
| Best qualifying | 2021 Dutch GP (7th) |
| Best result | 2019 Brazilian GP (5th) |
Giovinazzi could end up at Haas this season due to his connections with Ferrari and their ability to call up Oliver Bearman if required.
However, it’s likely that his Formula 1 career is now over, and Szafnauer made the correct call pushing to sign Gasly over the Italian.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Otmar Szafnauer details Helmut Marko negotiations to secure Pierre Gasly deal
To prise Gasly away from the Red Bull group, Szafnauer had to deal with Helmut Marko and talking about the negotiations, he said: “I like Helmut because he’s a straight shooter.
“So, what you see is what you get with him and he was really clear as to what had to happen and he stuck to it.
“Once he said, look, for me to be able to release Pierre a year early, this is what I want.
A new chapter will start in 2023 with @AlpineF1Team
I am extremely excited to join the team on a multi-year deal and work our way to the top together. pic.twitter.com/BtkTDOJ0hA
— PIERRE GASLY 🇫🇷 (@PierreGASLY) October 8, 2022
“And once he was happy that what he wanted we could give, no problem. He didn’t go back on his word. He didn’t try to change it. Nothing.
“So, I really enjoyed my – and it was quite short – my discussion. Two weeks, [and] the deal was done.”
Red Bull have already been making some bold driver changes this season, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda exchanging seats after just two races.
Marko admits he’s been negatively surprised by Lawson, and he may end up looking for a way to move the young Kiwi on if his performances don’t improve at Racing Bulls.
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