Force India adds Szafnauer in reshuffle
Force India has undertaken a major management reshuffle, AUTOSPORT can reveal, with former senior Honda figure Otmar Szafnauer replacing Simon Roberts as chief operating officer
Although the news has not been officially confirmed, AUTOSPORT understands that team owner Vijay Mallya and McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed Force India's staff at its Silverstone base on Wednesday to reveal the changes.
No explanation has been made for why the restructure has taken place, which comes on the back of a dramatic upturn in form for the team following its tie-up as a technical partner of McLaren and Mercedes this season.
Roberts arrived at the outfit as a virtual unknown outside of McLaren, but he has impressed with his efforts and approach this season to help guide Force India to its maiden pole position and podium performances.
AUTOSPORT understands that Roberts will now return to his former team McLaren to take up a senior engineering and management role.
The restructure marks a full-time return to F1 for Szafnauer, who left his position as vice president of Honda Racing Developments shortly before the Japanese manufacturer quit grand prix racing at the end of last year.
He has spent this season working on an official Formula 1 iPhone application and has been a regular in the paddock.
Force India was unavailable for comment to confirm the news on Wednesday, with personnel travelling to Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix. It is understood Mallya is due to address the race crew at Interlagos to confirm the changes ahead of the race weekend.
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Ocon owns up to “mistakes” after multiple collisions with Perez at Force India
Former Force India F1 boss Fernley dies aged 70
What Haas got out of its failed Force India protest
WRC Canary Islands: Ogier heads Toyota 1-2-3-4-5 after dominant Friday
Why Marquez can only "survive" in Spanish GP despite return to full fitness
What Apple TV’s F1® coverage delivers for fans in the U.S.
What other tracks should return to the F1 calendar? Our writers have their say
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments