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Who is Otmar Szafnauer?
Otmar Szafnauer is a well-recognized Romanian-American engineer. Besides, he is Racing Point’s Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal. Moreover, he is the current principal of the BTW Alpine F1 Team. In addition, he was the former Chief Operating Officer of the Sahara Force India Formula One team.
Profile of Otmar Szafnauer
| Full Name | Otmar Szafnauer |
| Popular As | Otmar Szafnauer |
| Birthdate | 13th August, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Semlac, Arad County, SR, Romania |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Engineer, CEO & Principal |
| Nationality | Romanian |
| Race / Ethnicity | Mixed (American-Romanian) |
| Religion | Undisclosed |
| Education | Graduate |
| University | University of Detroit Mercy & Wayne State University |
| Sexual Orientation | Undisclosed |
| Age | 58 Years Old |
| Sun-sign | Leo |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Height | Undisclosed |
| Marital status | Undisclosed |
| Parents | Undisclosed |
| Siblings | Undisclosed |
| Spouse | Undisclosed |
| Children | Undisclosed |
| Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
Otmar Szafnauer is a well-known Romanian entrepreneur who is most worked extensively as an entrepreneur, race car driver, as well as an engineer.
Early-life, Education & Family Background
Otmar Szafnauer was born in Semlac, Arad County, Romania, on 13th August, 1964. Apparently, he was born in Romania to a Romanian mother and an American father of German ancestry. Apart from this, the details of his parents and his family background are kept discrete. Eventually, he relocated to Detroit when he was seven years old. As of 2022, he is 58 years old.
As regards to his academics, Otmar has an impressive educational background. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit. Thereafter, he attended and graduated from the University of Detroit with a master’s degree in business and finance. Meanwhile, Szafnauer attended the Jim Russell Racing Driver School while working for Ford and commenced racing in Formula Ford in 1991.
Otmar Szafnauer’s Professional Career
Following his onset of racing journey, he entered Ford Motor Company in 1986. Few years later, he was appointed Programs Manager for Ford in the United States in 1993. Meanwhile, Otmar enrolled the Jim Russell Racing Driver School while working for Ford and began racing in Formula Ford in 1991.
Eventually, Szafnauer left Ford and joined British American Racing in Formula One as Operations Director in 1998. However, upon failing to land a job with Jaguar Racing, he was hired by Honda when the company returned to Formula One in 2001. Consequently, he was advanced to Vice President of Honda Racing Developments and a member of the Honda F1 team’s Management Board.
Thereafter, he established Soft Pauer following departure from Honda in 2008. And, in June 2009, the official Formula One Timing and Track Positioning Application for the iPhone was launched.
Time in Force India
Szafnauer joined Force India in October 2009 and has played a key role in the team’s improving performance, with the team finishing seventh in 2010 and sixth in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Later, they reached into the top five in 2015 and finishing fourth in 2016 and 2017.
Nonetheless, Otmar’s initiatives were also essential in the team gaining a long-term arrangement to use the Mercedes powertrain starting in 2014. Remarkably, Szafnauer stayed with Force India after the team was sold in 2019 and became Aston Martin for the 2021 season before finally departing in January 2022. As a matter of fact, he has spent the past 12 years with the Silverstone-based team, which has gone by the names Force India and Racing Point.
Onset of Alpine F1 Journey
Szafnauer, a Romanian-American engineer who began his professional career in 1986 after joining Ford Motor Company, has worked his way up the corporate ladder. Currently, he is the principal for the Alpine F1 Team.
Reportedly, Otmar Szafnauer joined the BWT Alpine F1 Team as Team Principal in February 2022. Nevertheless, he intends the team to compete for the championship within the next 100 races, beginning with the season opener in Bahrain.
Honors & Achievements
Otmar Szafnauer was a member of the Honda F1 team’s Management Board and former Vice President of Honda Racing Developments. Szafnauer was inducted into the USF2000 Hall of Fame in 2013 for his efforts in motorsport over the previous two decades.
Szafnauer’s Personal-life & Relationships
According to media records, Otmar Szafnauer is possibily single and has never been engaged /married. Accordingly, he appears to be a very private person who keeps his personal life hidden from the public eye.
Social Media Handles of Otmar Szafnauer
Otmar Szafnauer is a well-recognized persona in the motorsport community. And, he can be accessed via his Instagram account where he has amassed 37k followers on his personal Instagram handle.
| Otmar Szafnauer |
Net Worth of Otmar Szafnauer
The veteran with three decades of experience is worth more than $1.5 million. His income primarily derives from his positions at the motorsport management. In addition, there are possibilities of his other business ventures that eventually aids his net worth.
