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.
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