F1 LIVE: Otmar Szafnauer reveals he paid ‘millions’ to Force F1 staff

Otmar Szafnauer reveals he paid ‘millions’ to Force India F1 staff in team’s final days

Otmar Szafnauer, the former team principal of Force India Formula 1, has revealed the extraordinary measures he took to ensure the team’s staff were paid during the organization’s financial struggles in 2018. As the team faced a financial crisis, Szafnauer personally stepped in to cover the salaries of employees on two occasions, an act that cost him millions but kept the team afloat during its most difficult moments.

Force India’s financial troubles became a major talking point in the 2018 F1 season as the team scrambled to find a buyer. The team, known for punching above its weight on the track, was battling severe cash flow problems, and the situation reached a tipping point before the Hungarian Grand Prix. Eventually, a consortium led by billionaire Lawrence Stroll rescued the team, leading to its transformation into Racing Point. Stroll’s involvement also paved the way for his son, Lance, to join the team in 2019, where he continues to race.

In a candid interview on the High Performance podcast, Szafnauer shared the extent of his commitment to the team and its staff during this turbulent period. He revealed that when Force India could no longer afford to pay its employees, he took it upon himself to make sure the salaries were covered. On two separate occasions, Szafnauer paid the team’s wages out of his own pocket, with the total amount reaching into the millions.

“Twice…It wasn’t that much,” Szafnauer said, before confirming that the sum involved was, in fact, in the millions. The decision to personally finance the salaries was not taken lightly, but Szafnauer explained that he understood the importance of ensuring the staff were paid on time, especially as many employees were living paycheck to paycheck.

“I knew how difficult that is for people. Some people live paycheck to paycheck, and I understand it,” Szafnauer said. “We had to pay the salaries, and the Formula 1 money was coming in five days’ time. So say the salaries are due on a Friday, and we’re getting the Formula 1 money the following Wednesday. I could have waited, not paid on Friday, or paid with my own money and then waited until Wednesday to get that money back from when the Formula 1 money came.”

Szafnauer further explained that he was able to pull off this heroic act with the help of a company he was involved with, Soft Pauer. He and his business partner had funds available through the company, which allowed him to bridge the gap until the team’s finances were stabilized. “I paid it with the help of my partner at Soft Pauer,” he revealed.

Despite Szafnauer’s significant personal contributions to keeping Force India operational, his time with the team came to an end before the 2022 season. After the team was rebranded as Aston Martin following Lawrence Stroll’s buyout, Szafnauer left and shortly after joined Alpine, a midfield rival in the F1 paddock.

However, his stint at Alpine was far from smooth. In a dramatic turn of events, Szafnauer was abruptly fired during the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Citing differences in vision between Szafnauer and the team’s leadership, Alpine chose to part ways with him after a rocky tenure that saw the team struggle to make significant progress.

Szafnauer’s story is a testament to his dedication as a leader, willing to go to great lengths to support his team during its most challenging times. Although his financial sacrifices did not secure his long-term future with the team, his actions reflect the depth of commitment he had to the people behind Force India’s success.