A day after Fernando Alonso announced he would be joining the Aston Martin F1 team for 2023, Alpine announced his replacement for next year as their reserve driver, Oscar Piastri.
There’s one problem with that announcement…Oscar disagrees and says he isn’t driving for Alpine in 2023.
This is starting to sound very familiar with Indycar when Alex Palou was announced by Chip Ganassi racing only to then deny that claim stating he would be driving for McLaren. Now the matter is in court…and possibly Federal court.
Alpine said:
“2023 driver line-up confirmed: Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri
After four years as part of the Renault and Alpine family, Reserve Driver Oscar Piastri is promoted to a race seat alongside Esteban Ocon starting from 2023.”
Piastri said:
“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” he wrote.
“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023.
“I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Well this is interesting and it has many folks wondering just who will be driving for Alpine. If McLaren have made a deal with Oscar, then perhaps Daniel Ricciardo could move back to Alpine but there are many who feel that Palou may be heading to McLaren. The music is playing loudly in this game of musical chairs.
Only Fernando Alonso could turn Silly Season into a chaotic, litigious season. Alpine says they believe they are legally correct in their statement. I suspect this is going to be the new way of F1—litigating these situations and a bunch of drama over these reserve drivers who have been loaned out to other teams and want to make deals with other teams. Seems typical for this new version of F1 if I’m honest.
What an absolute sh!t show.
My understanding is that the option on Oscar expired on the 31st of July. Maybe that’s where some of the mess is coming from.
Sounds like Oscar the grouch XD
A case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.
So, what’s the REAL truth out there?
Wouldn’t it be great if Mark Webber orchestrated this whole thing. He knows Seb very well and I think they got over the “multi 21″thing a long time ago. Mark and Fernando are good friends, and Daniel must have contact as well being from down under. “The conspiracy theory” Daniel Ricciardo is thinking about quitting, he’s getting beaten by Lando, he feels he’s lost some of his speed, it’s getting a bit humiliating. but he’s got a a watertight contract with McLaren, there is money to be made if he doesn’t leave the team but gets “fired”. Sebastian is out… Read more »
OR…maybe it was the elusive Flavio Briatore. :)
That makes so much more sense.
I didn’t know Fernando was managed by Flavio.