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Days After Alpine CEO’s Outburst on Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly’s Underachievements, the French Team Given a Brutal Reality Check

Published 05/16/2023, 5:30 AM EDT

‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown’. But the rulers of the midfield only have a heavy heart seeing the worst possible start this season. We saw how Alpine dreams stood crushed by their own, doing at least in the first three races of the season. From botchy pit stops to causing their own wipeout, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon aren’t where they should be. At least that is what their CEO, Laurent Rossi, believes. However, the disappointed man is in for further disappointment as he is given a harsh reality check.

Rossi lashed out at his team a few days ago, implying that the investments being made aren’t reflected in the result. He went on to blast each and every person in the Enstone-based team, calling the approach amateurish and unacceptable. But an F1 pundit believes that the team being in shambles is Rossi’s own doing.

Speaking to the Race podcast, analyst Valentin Khorounzhiy said, “I don’t think Alpine has invested more than other midfield teams. They’re about where they should be, in fourth or fifth position. The team from Enstone is not very good in terms of infrastructure. Very little was invested in the infrastructure at the end of the Lotus period, and Rossi should also take a good look at that.”

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However, though the CEO has been given a reality check, he perhaps may give the team TP, Otmar Szafnauer an ultimatum.

Is it Alpine TP Otmar Szafnauer’s fault?

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Rossi has bashed Szafnauer as well, asking him to sort the mess out. While Khorounzhiy is himself not a fan of Szafnauer from his Racing Point days, he still believes Rossi’s attitude isn’t great and the TP should be given more than 12 months’ time.

Khorounzhiy said, ”He was brought in to improve an organization that was not performing well enough, and I’m talking about Enstone. They have serious problems in that organization, and you can’t expect him to fix it in 12 months. If he’s the right guy for the job, then you need to give him time to fix that situation. Overreacting emotionally and making threats shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the Formula 1 world.”

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Do you think Alpine will be able to successfully defend their best of the rest title?

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Written by:

Anmol is an F1 writer at EssentiallySports. With a background in journalism and a passion for motorsports, she brings a unique perspective to her coverage of the world of F1. Anmol's interest in the sport was piqued after watching Lewis Hamilton's interview with David Letterman, and she has been a dedicated follower ever since.

Edited by:

Akash Pandhare

Days After Alpine CEO’s Outburst on Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly’s Underachievements, the French Team Given a Brutal Reality Check

Is it Alpine TP Otmar Szafnauer’s fault?

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