Team chief Budkowski leaves Alpine F1 Team

As part of its latest management shake-up, the Entsone-based Alpine F1 Team has announced that it has parted ways with its executive director Marcin Budkowski.

Just a week after Aston Martin parted company with team boss Otmar Szafnauer, the Anglo-French team Alpine has announced the exit of its executive director Marcin Budkowski.

The 44-year-old Warsaw-born engineer joined the Enstone-based outfit back in 2018 and effectively split the team leadership role with racing director Davide Brivio last season, both reporting to CEO Laurent Rossi.

Rossi commented: “I would like to thank Marcin Budkowski for his commitment and contribution to the team’s results over the last four years. The team is fully focused on getting the car ready for the first race in Bahrain and deliver a step beyond in performance.”

Commenting on his departure from Alpine, Budkowski added: “I truly enjoyed being part of the leadership team of Renault then Alpine F1 Team, working with such a talented and dedicated group of people. I will be watching the team’s progress fondly in the seasons to come.”

After completing his studies, Budkowski started his career in motorsport in 2001 as an aerodynamicist for Prost GP. The Polish engineer subsequently moved to Ferrari, working for the Italian team between 2002 and 2007 in a period that saw the team winning multiple championships.

Seeking a new challenge, he then joined McLaren in 2007, working in a variety of aerodynamic roles both at the factory and trackside, notably during the 2008 title winning year, before becoming head of aerodynamics in 2012.

His seven years at McLaren ended in 2014, after which he became Formula 1’s technical and sporting coordinator for the FIA, subsequently becoming head of the Formula One technical department in 2017. He then left the Paris-based organisation in order to join the then Reanult team.