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Otmar Szafnauer
Transform F1 team performance with Otmar Szafnauer, speaker and motorsport executive. Otmar works with racing organizations to develop high-performing teams, strategic leadership, and operational excellence, bringing 30+ years of Formula 1 experience as former Alpine and Aston Martin Team Principal.
Otmar Szafnauer is a highly accomplished motor racing executive with over 30 years of experience in Formula 1. He gained recognition as Vice President of Honda Racing and later served as CEO and Team Principal of Racing Point (now Aston Martin Racing). His most recent position was Team Principal of the Alpine F1 Team until mid-2023.
Otmar began his career in North America, where he founded and drove for his racing team before taking a managerial role at Ford, overseeing junior racing programmes. In 1998, he moved to Europe to join the British American Racing team as Operations Director, playing a pivotal role in establishing its operations. His leadership in planning, purchasing, and quality control laid the groundwork for future successes.
The team became the Honda Racing F1 Team, and Otmar became VP of Honda Racing Development. He advised on regulatory matters and negotiations with the FIA and Formula One. He also chaired the Engine Manufacturers Working Group, collaborating with manufacturers like Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Toyota, and Honda to define F1 engine regulations.
In 2009, Otmar became Chief Operating Officer at Force India, transforming the struggling team into a high-performing World Championship competitor. His empathetic leadership and strategic direction were crucial in creating the culture of high performance and psychological safety that fuelled the success, further demonstrated when he led the team through administration, ensuring that no employees got left behind in the bankruptcy process and subsequent sale.
Following the restructuring of Force India, Otmar became the Team Principal and CEO of the Racing Point team. The team won the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix and finished 4th in the World Championship for Constructors. He continued in his role when the team was subsequently sold to Aston Martin and continued to drive success, recruiting top talent, including four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Most recently, he served as Team Principal of the Alpine F1 Team, where he initiated cultural changes and led the team to its highest-ever finishing position in the 2023 F1 Championship. Throughout his career, Otmar has demonstrated a unique ability to combine strategic vision, technical expertise and empathetic leadership to achieve success in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
Book Otmar Szafnauer to inspire your team with his unparalleled leadership insights from the high-stakes world of Formula 1. His experience in transforming struggling teams into champions, coupled with his focus on culture and performance, will motivate and equip your organisation for success. Don’t miss this opportunity!
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frequently asked questions
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To book Otmar Szafnauer, email otmar.szafnauer@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Otmar's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Otmar Szafnauer draws on over 30 years of direct operational experience in Formula 1 to structure his sessions around leadership and organisational transformation, using case studies from his tenures at Force India, Racing Point/Aston Martin, and Alpine F1 to illustrate how high-performance cultures are built under financial and competitive pressure.
Otmar Szafnauer speaks on team building, workplace culture, and leadership strategy in high-performance environments. He brings over 30 years of Formula 1 executive experience, having served as Team Principal at Alpine F1, CEO and Team Principal at Racing Point/Aston Martin Racing, and VP at Honda Racing.
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