Otmar Szafnauer is a highly accomplished motor racing executive with over three decades of leadership experience in Formula 1. He first came to prominence in his role as Vice President of Honda Racing, then later as CEO and Team Principal of the team now known as Aston Martin Racing. His... Read more
Otmar Szafnauer is a highly accomplished motor racing executive with over three decades of leadership experience in Formula 1. He first came to prominence in his role as Vice President of Honda Racing, then later as CEO and Team Principal of the team now known as Aston Martin Racing. His most recent executive role in Formula 1 was as Team Principal of the Alpine F1 Team until mid-2023.
Szafnauer’s career began in North America where, after founding and driving for his own racing team, he secured a managerial role within Ford, managing junior racing programs.
In 1998, Szafnauer moved to Europe, joining the British American Racing (BAR) team as Operations Director. He played a critical role in establishing its operations, overseeing planning, purchasing, manufacturing, quality control and car build processes. His leadership and strategic planning helped to lay the foundation for the team’s success.
Szafnauer’s career moved up a gear when the team became the Honda Racing F1 Team. As Vice President of Honda Racing Development and later as a member of the team’s board, he was a key advisor to the President of Honda Racing, managing regulatory and commercial negotiations with the FIA and Formula One.
His leadership extended beyond the team as he chaired the Engine Manufacturers Working Group, collaborating with OEM manufacturers including Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari, Toyota and Honda to define and write the F1 engine regulations.
In 2009, Szafnauer took on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Force India, a team that was struggling at the time. Under his guidance, the team transformed into a high-performing entity, regularly finishing fourth in the World Championship. Szafnauer’s empathetic leadership and strategic direction were crucial in achieving these results, as he focused on creating a culture of high performance and psychological safety.
Szafnauer’s ability to navigate challenging situations was further demonstrated when he successfully led the team through administration, ensuring that not a single employee left during the bankruptcy process and subsequent sale.
Rising from the ashes of Force India, Szafnauer became the Team Principal and CEO of the Racing Point team, the team winning the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix and finishing 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 4-times World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Most recently, Szafnauer 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 Szafnauer 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.