Otmar Szafnauer
Otmar Szafnauer is a Romanian-American Formula 1 team principal and motorsport executive who advises organisations and leaders on high-performance team management, operational leadership, and competitive strategy in complex environments.
- Romanian-American engineer and motorsport executive with senior leadership experience in Formula 1 since the late 1990s.
- Former Team Principal of Racing Point and Aston Martin in Formula 1.
- Led Racing Point to a race victory and a 4th place finish in the Constructors’ Championship.
- Former Team Principal of Alpine, achieving 4th place in the Constructors’ Championship under the Alpine name.
- Held senior leadership roles at Honda Racing Development, including Vice President.
- Founder and Chairman of the software company Soft Pauer.
Full Profile
Key speaking topics
- High-performance team leadership
- Formula 1 team management
- Competitive strategy in elite sport
- Organisational transformation
- Governance and regulatory environments
- Engineering leadership
- Operational excellence under pressure
Ideal for
- Senior leadership teams
- Executive and board-level audiences
- Engineering and technical organisations
- High-performance and elite sport conferences
Audience outcomes
- Clear understanding of how Formula 1 teams are structured and led
- Practical insights into building and sustaining high-performance cultures
- Perspective on managing performance under regulatory and competitive constraints
- Lessons in operational leadership during periods of organisational transition
- Real-world examples of strategic decision-making in complex environments
Why organisations work with Otmar Szafnauer
- Direct experience leading multiple Formula 1 teams at board and team principal level.
- Proven track record of guiding teams through ownership transitions and competitive rebuilding.
- Combines engineering expertise with executive-level commercial and governance experience.
- Brings practical insight from operating in one of the world’s most competitive and regulated sporting environments.
Biography
Otmar Szafnauer brings decades of senior leadership experience from the pinnacle of global motorsport, where performance, governance and operational precision determine competitive success. He has held team principal and executive roles across multiple Formula 1 organisations, leading complex teams in one of the most demanding and regulated environments in sport.
At the Silverstone-based Formula 1 team that evolved from Force India to Racing Point and Aston Martin, he served in senior leadership for more than a decade, including as Team Principal and CEO. During this period, the team progressed to regular points-scoring performance, achieved a 4th place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, and secured a Formula 1 race victory.
He later led the BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team as Team Principal, guiding the organisation to a 4th place Constructors’ Championship finish under the Alpine name. His leadership experience spans competitive rebuilding, ownership transition and performance management at board and operational level.
Earlier in his career, Szafnauer held senior roles within Honda’s Formula 1 programme, rising to Vice President of Honda Racing Development. His responsibilities included executive leadership and involvement in regulatory-facing work within the sport’s governance structures.
An engineer by training, he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in business and finance from the University of Detroit Mercy. He began his career at Ford Motor Company before moving into Formula 1 leadership roles in the late 1990s.
Alongside his motorsport career, he founded the software company Soft Pauer and serves as its chairman, reflecting his continued interest in technology and data-driven performance.
Talks
An exploration of how elite Formula 1 teams align talent, make rapid decisions, and sustain performance under pressure, with practical strategies applicable to complex business environments.
Key takeaways:
- Leadership strategies for aligning teams in high-pressure situations
- Approaches to building resilience and continuous innovation within teams
- Tools for effective decision-making in fast-moving, high-stakes environments
A practical perspective on strategic planning, risk management, and execution drawn from managing complex Formula 1 operations where speed, precision, and clarity are critical.
Key takeaways:
- Methods for managing complex operations with clarity and confidence
- Strategies for decision-making in high-pressure, mission-critical contexts
- Tools for aligning cross-functional teams around shared objectives
Insights into how Formula 1 teams apply advanced engineering, data-driven development, and rapid iteration to maintain competitive advantage in a technology-led environment.
Key takeaways:
- How cutting-edge technology supports innovation and competitive advantage
- Strategies to accelerate innovation cycles and embed continuous improvement
- The role of data-driven engineering in strengthening decision-making
Videos
Fees
| EUR | GBP | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Country | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Asia Pacific | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Europe | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Middle East & Africa | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| South America | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| United Kingdom | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| US East Coast | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| US West Coast | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |
| Virtual | €12000 to €40000 | £10,001 - £35,000 | $15000 - $50000 |