Szafnauer squashes Alpine F1 links: I have a long-term deal with Aston Martin

Earlier in the week, a report in the French media suggested that Szafnauer was on his way to Alpine with current race director Davide Brivio potentially returning to MotoGP.

Szafnauer took to social media to initially address the rumours on Thursday, claiming the rumours were “not based on fact”.

The current Aston Martin F1 team principal was put in front of the media on Friday in the FIA press conference where he once again rejected any suggestions that he’s set to join Alpine.

“I too read those rumours a couple of days ago and I was as surprised as anybody else,” he said.

“But I just want to say it’s always humbling and flattering for people to say ‘Oh if Alpine are reorganising’ - I think Laurent Rossi said that in Mexico and for the media to speculate that I could be wanted there, it’s always nice to be wanted.”

Szafnauer was then pressed as to where he thought the rumours came from, where he replied: “The first I saw was AutoHebdo and not being French I don’t know who they are, but I think it was translated into English from what my colleagues in the press office tell me.

“I think I was sitting next to Laurent Rossi when McEvoy asked if Aston Martin were recruiting a CEO to take my job, and I knew nothing of that and jokingly Rossi said ‘Oh if you’re leaving, come talk to us’ and that was about it. I don’t know if that’s what sparked the AutoHebdo article.”

Szafnauer has been with the Silverstone-based outfit since 2009 through its various identities - Force India, Racing Point and now Aston Martin - becoming F1 team boss in 2018 when Lawrence Stroll completed his takeover of the team.

He revealed that he has a long term deal with Aston Martin and has no intentions of leaving the team he has spent the last 12 years with.

“I’ve been at the team for 12 years, I’ve no intention of leaving,” he added. I love this team, most of the senior managers - especially through Racing Point - and the senior leadership team was recruited and put there by myself and I have no intentions of leaving them.

“I’ve been loyal to this team - I’ve had many, many offers in the 12 years I’ve been working for this team, especially in the days of the bankruptcy and insolvency. I could have left many times but I’m loyal to the employees there.

“I’m always reticent to disclose contractual details but I can tell you I have a long-term contract in place with Aston.”

Szafnauer confirmed that he hasn’t yet spoken to Stroll about the speculation.

“Asked me for a clarification? No, he wasn’t in Mexico, he’s not here - he wasn’t feeling well,” he concluded. “I’m sure I’ll catch up with him during the weekend, but no we haven’t talked about rumours. There’s lots of stuff that goes on in the media that we don’t talk about.”