Otmar Szafnauer is officially back in the paddock, but in a role few would have predicted. The former Team Principal of Aston Martin and Alpine has been appointed CEO and managing partner of Van Amersfoort Racing. For an executive with decades of Formula 1 experience, this is a surprising move—yet one that signals a new phase for a historic junior-category outfit, the very same team that helped launch Max Verstappen’s meteoric rise.
A new chapter: Szafnauer takes charge of VAR
After his departure from Alpine in 2023, many questions surrounded Otmar Szafnauer’s future in Formula 1. Now the answer has arrived in the form of a leadership role that puts him in charge of performance across Van Amersfoort Racing’s programmes in Formula 2, Formula 3 and the other categories in which the Dutch team competes.
Otmar Szafnauer explained his decision as follows:
“Van Amersfoort Racing has a strong reputation for developing talent and competing at a high level across multiple categories. I am looking forward to working closely with the team and the wider organisation to lead the next phase of the team’s development.”
The appointment has also been welcomed enthusiastically by Team Principal Brad Joyce, who highlighted the added value Otmar Szafnauer brings to the structure:
“Otmar’s experience and leadership add a valuable perspective to the organisation. His appointment significantly strengthens VAR as we continue to evolve and pursue our long-term vision.”
From F1 to the junior categories: reinventing a career path
Szafnauer brings with him a wealth of experience from the pinnacle of motorsport. He led Force India and Racing Point through some of their most competitive seasons, before being pushed aside following the rebranding to Aston Martin. He then became part of Alpine’s complex managerial reshuffle, where he remained for just over a year.
His name resurfaced again in 2025, when he revealed that he had a group of “serious people” ready to finance a twelfth Formula 1 team. He added that a car manufacturer was “willing to participate” and that he was working on concrete proposals for a new entry, without ruling out the possibility of acquiring an existing team.
At the same time, he acknowledged that a realistic entry into F1 would not have been possible before 2028 or 2029.
It is clear that Otmar Szafnauer’s arrival at Van Amersfoort Racing opens an unprecedented chapter for one of the paddock’s most experienced managers. Choosing to lead a junior team could represent a return to the grassroots of motorsport, a long-term building project, or even a strategic step toward a future comeback in Formula 1 through alternative pathways.
In a constantly evolving racing landscape, his presence adds weight, credibility and ambition to a team that has already proven its ability to guide young talents all the way to the very top of the sport.
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