Otmar Szafnauer steers Van Amersfoort Racing toward Formula 2 leadership

Former Formula 1 team boss Otmar Szafnauer, who led Alpine, has been CEO of Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) since 2025. He emphasizes a hands‑on, motivational approach to driver development, maintaining close contact with pilots across the Formula 2 and Formula 3 categories and constantly scouting talent in lower formulas to keep a strong pipeline.

Szafnauer highlighted recent success at Silverstone, where VAR’s Formula 2 driver Rafael Villagomez secured podiums in both the Sprint and Feature races after a challenging start to the weekend. The team aims to replicate such results in both F2 and F3, stressing the importance of driver skill and dedication in series where technical development is limited.