The Enstone-based team were close to agreeing a new contract with the two-time F1 world champion before the Spaniard made a shock call to join Aston Martin earlier this week.
One of the key factors at the heart of Alonso’s decision to move teams was that Aston Martin was willing to offer him a much longer-term contract – expected to last up to three years, including options.
MORE: The traits that fueled Aston Martin’s unexpected move from Alonso
Alpine, however, were only ready to commit to a one-plus-one-year deal as they wanted some flexibility in case Alonso’s speed showed signs of waning.
While Alonso, who is 41, felt such concern was unfounded as he says he is not showing any signs of declining form yet, Alpine insists there is coming a when things turn around.
Reflecting on what Alpine was ready to offer Alonso, team principal Otmar Szafnauer said age could not be ignored, and that’s why he wanted to protect himself.
“It’s hard to predict the future,” Szafnauer explained. “Like, I always say, if I could predict the future, I wouldn’t be here. I would be in Vegas.
“We offered a one plus one deal. And we discussed this with Fernando: look, if next year at this time, you are performing at the same level, of course, we will take you. And it could have continued.
“But I think he wanted more certainty, regardless of performance: ‘I want to stay longer.’ And I think that was the crux of one plus one as opposed to two plus one or three plus one or three years.
Otmar Szafnauer, Team Principal, Alpine F1, Pat Fry
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
Szafnauer said even the greatest drivers like Michael Schumacher weren’t as good at the end of their career as they were when they started.
“There comes a time when something physiologically happens to a driver, and you don’t have the same abilities as when you were younger,” he said.
“I think it happened to Michael. I think it’s fair to say that Michael Schumacher at 42 wasn’t the same driver he was at 32 or 35. other athletes.
“For cricketers, it’s not such a physically demanding sport. It’s all about hand-eye coordination, moving the bat to the right millimeters in a way that protects [the stumps].
“But after 32, 33 or 34 years, the best drummer in the world can’t do it anymore. And that’s because something happens to them. And it happens to race car drivers as well.
“So we were in favor of: yes, if you play at the highest level, for sure we will keep you. But let’s do it a year at a time and I think he wanted a longer duration.
Szafnauer also denied suggestions that Alonso had not been happy with plans to join Alpine’s LMDh programme, at a time when he still felt he had much more to offer F1.
Speaking about this project, Szafnauer said: “We had conversations with Fernando and Laurent too. [Rossi, Alpine CEO]. It was with respect, when you finish in F1, we would love for you to continue with the family and go racing further with Alpine. So it wasn’t really a surprise for Fernando, because he agreed to do it and thought it was a good idea.
“The question was, well, when will that happen? But when that happens, going to Le Mans, he was absolutely happy to continue that way.
The Enstone-based team were close to agreeing a new contract with the two-time F1 world champion before the Spaniard made a shock call to join Aston Martin earlier this week.
One of the key factors at the heart of Alonso’s decision to move teams was that Aston Martin was willing to offer him a much longer-term contract – expected to last up to three years, including options.
MORE: The traits that fueled Aston Martin’s unexpected move from Alonso
Alpine, however, were only ready to commit to a one-plus-one-year deal as they wanted some flexibility in case Alonso’s speed showed signs of waning.
While Alonso, who is 41, felt such concern was unfounded as he says he is not showing any signs of declining form yet, Alpine insists there is coming a when things turn around.
Reflecting on what Alpine was ready to offer Alonso, team principal Otmar Szafnauer said age could not be ignored, and that’s why he wanted to protect himself.
“It’s hard to predict the future,” Szafnauer explained. “Like, I always say, if I could predict the future, I wouldn’t be here. I would be in Vegas.
“We offered a one plus one deal. And we discussed this with Fernando: look, if next year at this time, you are performing at the same level, of course, we will take you. And it could have continued.
“But I think he wanted more certainty, regardless of performance: ‘I want to stay longer.’ And I think that was the crux of one plus one as opposed to two plus one or three plus one or three years.
Otmar Szafnauer, Team Principal, Alpine F1, Pat Fry
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
Szafnauer said even the greatest drivers like Michael Schumacher weren’t as good at the end of their career as they were when they started.
“There comes a time when something physiologically happens to a driver, and you don’t have the same abilities as when you were younger,” he said.
“I think it happened to Michael. I think it’s fair to say that Michael Schumacher at 42 wasn’t the same driver he was at 32 or 35. other athletes.
“For cricketers, it’s not such a physically demanding sport. It’s all about hand-eye coordination, moving the bat to the right millimeters in a way that protects [the stumps].
“But after 32, 33 or 34 years, the best drummer in the world can’t do it anymore. And that’s because something happens to them. And it happens to race car drivers as well.
“So we were in favor of: yes, if you play at the highest level, for sure we will keep you. But let’s do it a year at a time and I think he wanted a longer duration.
Szafnauer also denied suggestions that Alonso had not been happy with plans to join Alpine’s LMDh programme, at a time when he still felt he had much more to offer F1.
Speaking about this project, Szafnauer said: “We had conversations with Fernando and Laurent too. [Rossi, Alpine CEO]. It was with respect, when you finish in F1, we would love for you to continue with the family and go racing further with Alpine. So it wasn’t really a surprise for Fernando, because he agreed to do it and thought it was a good idea.
“The question was, well, when will that happen? But when that happens, going to Le Mans, he was absolutely happy to continue that way.