Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer will mount a legal challenge to boom Australian Formula 1 rookie Oscar Piastri’s switch to McLaren.
Szafnauer claimed at the Belgian Grand Prix yesterday (AEDT) that Alpine had a contract for 2023 with Piastri, who won the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships in the past two years as part of the French team’s development program.
McLaren announced this week that Piastri would take over in 2023 from his countryman Daniel Ricciardo, who would be paid out the final year of his contract in a settlement reportedly worth $24 million.
Alpine had announced on August 1 that Piastri, who is the reserve driver at the French team this year, would take a coveted seat in F1, only for the 21-year-old to take to social media to sensationally respond with: “I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
The Piastri situation got even spicier, however, when Szafnauer spoke for the first time about the situation to Sky Sports F1 at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Szafnauer stated that the matter would be resolved by the FAI’s Contract Recognition Board next week. Piastri’s camp contends that he has a clause that allows him to leave Alpine.
“I think the right thing for us to do is go to the CRB on Monday, see how that pans out and then start looking at some negotiations in earnest,” Szafnauer told Sky Sports.
“He’s a promising young driver, [but] he hasn’t driven in Formula 1 yet, and my wish for Oscar is he had a bit more integrity.
Oscar Piastri is the centre of a Formula 1 contract dispute with Alpine.Credit:Getty Images
“He signed a piece of paper as well back in November, and we’ve done everything on our end of the bargain to prepare him for Formula 1, and his end of the bargain was to either drive for us or take a seat where we would place him for the next three years.
“I just wish Oscar would have remembered what he signed in November and what he signed up to.”
Piastri’s management has been contacted for comment.
The opportunity came when two-time world champion Fernando Alonso shocked Alpine by signing with Aston Martin after only being offered a one-year contract.
Piastri is considered a once-in-a-generation talent after matching the feats of F1 stars Charles Leclerc and George Russell by winning the junior classes in consecutive years.
McLaren boss Zak Brown, who is looking forward to Piastri joining Lando Norris at his team next year, took a swipe at Szafnauer for his role in the controversial Racing Point car in 2020.
“Judging by recent times and the way Fernando caught Otmar by surprise – and not too long ago he was the recipient of a €400,000 fine and 15 points – I’m not sure he comes with the highest level of credibility and making accusations of ethics,” Brown said.
