Szafnauer's Hands-On Approach to Take VAR to F2 Summit

Otmar Szafnauer is not the type of boss who stays behind a desk. The former Formula 1 team principal, now CEO of Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR), is taking a hands-on approach: talking to his drivers at every round, motivating them, and ensuring the team keeps progressing in Formula 2 and Formula 3.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, Szafnauer revealed that despite not being the team principal, he maintains close ties with the drivers. VAR is well-known for nurturing future F1 talent—Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Ollie Bearman are just three of its many alumni.

“I talk to them motivationally on a race-to-race basis,” said Szafnauer. “I’m also involved in selecting the next drivers for VAR, because invariably after a few years they move—one, two, or three years in a series, then they go. So there’s a constant turnover, and I like to look at the lower formulas to ensure we pick the best drivers.”

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This approach is deliberate. In the feeder series, where technical development is limited, driver quality is the key differentiator. Szafnauer stressed the importance of drivers who learn quickly, possess natural talent, and work hard. “The driver engineer has a huge influence here, and having drivers who can learn fast is crucial,” he added.

Results are starting to show. At Silverstone, VAR’s F2 driver Rafael Villagomez impressed with podiums in both the Sprint and Feature races after a tough start to the season. Villagomez admitted the weekend felt like a turning point. However, F3 was more challenging due to suboptimal qualifying. Szafnauer has a clear target: “We need a good weekend in both F2 and F3 at the same time.”

He also highlighted the importance of qualifying in F3, where DRS trains often decide the race. “In F3, qualifying is critical. Unfortunately, we didn’t optimize it at Silverstone. In F2, Rafa Jr finishing second in the Feature race was great. But everything has to come together—including the driver staying out of trouble,” he said.

Reflecting on his long career, Szafnauer joked when asked if he would change anything: “Maybe start earlier.” The comment reflects a man who has dedicated his life to motorsport. Many thought his career was over after leaving Alpine in 2023, but he has instead proven he is not done, taking VAR to glory—arguably one of the biggest challenges yet.