F1 News: Former Alpine CTO Opens Up On Shock Exit - "Didn't Feel There Was Enthusiasm"
Former Chief Technical Officer of Alpine, Pat Fry, offers a behind-the-scenes perspective of what caused him to make the sudden switch from the Enstone team to Williams this year. Revealing key details, he highlights how the parent companies had their hands tied, which prevented him from making independent decisions.
Fry was part of the team during its Benetton era from 1987 to 1993. He later had stints at McLaren and Ferrari before rejoining the Enstone camp in 2020. Although he played a role in the development of the last three cars, he decided to depart earlier this year.
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Coincidentally, news of his transition to Williams surfaced on the day when the abrupt exits of Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane were also disclosed.
After a gardening break of a few weeks, Fry began his work at Grove in early November. Speaking to the media for the first time since his shocking Alpine exit, he offered details of his unexpected move. He told Motorsport.com:
"I look back at the first three years I was there, and we improved Enstone, dramatically.
"Year-on-year, we built a better car.
"If you put the three cars next to each other, each one was a massive step. It's a credit for everyone there, the various teams were collaborating a huge amount better. I think everyone there should be proud of what we achieved for those three years.
"I guess I'd gone back there [thinking] to go back to the place you started your career and try and rebuild it. And I think we did really well. From a distant fifth, we were a solid fourth.
"But I didn't feel there was the enthusiasm or the drive to move forward beyond fourth.
"I decided at the start of March that I want to be pushing things forward, I don't just want to sit there and not be able to do things. So for me, that was time to stop and move on, really.?
"It's one of those things, I think as a company, they weren't almost set up to push hard enough, you can say you want to be first. But the difference between saying it and achieving it, is monumental, as we all know."
When he was asked to expand further on what was lacking, Fry clarified that he was hinting at parent company Renault and not the race team itself. He continued:
"Enstone as such, the destiny that we were in charge of, we could control.
"And I think we did a good job.
"I'm not so sure that Otmar got a fair chance at fixing the place, because to some degree I think metaphorically, your hands are tied, I guess.
"But as I say, I think everyone there should be proud of what we achieved in those first three years.
"It's always a shame walking away from things. But I think for me, I'd taken them as far as I could. And it was time for me to put my feet up and sit in my garden!"
Onboarding At Williams
For Fry to join Williams as Chief Technical Officer, it took a whole two months of convincing by team principal James Vowles. He added:
"James had been talking to me for a little while, and it wasn't until another couple of months after that that I decided to come here.
"I guess the thing that excites me about this opportunity is the board is fully on board with what it's going to take to move this place forward. They're willing to invest what it takes and support us in building a team.
"And again, it's a nice thing isn't it, to rebuild an old British icon. It's a bit like my romantic view of going back to Benetton, to rebuild them. So it's another exciting prospect."
"James is pushing hard to try and improve this place. As I said the board is fully behind him moving the pace forward, and that's the thing that excites me, we're not going to be limited in what we can achieve.
"We just got to do the best we can in the time and move things forward."
