Oscar Piastri has issued a statement denying he has signed a deal to race in Formula 1 with Alpine F1 Team in 2023.
On August 2nd (Tuesday), the Alpine F1 team will promote reserve driver Oscar Piastri to the race seat from the 2023 season as a successor to Fernando Alonso who transferred to Aston Martin F1 and will appoint him as a race driver. Announced.
Strangely, the Alpine F1 Team press release contained no comments from Oscar Piastri, not even a response on his social media.
And on Tuesday night, Oscar Piastri took to Twitter to express his surprise that the Alpine F1 team had issued a press release, claiming it was released without his consent.
“I understand that without my consent Alpine F1 issued a press release late this afternoon stating that I will be driving for them next year,” wrote Oscar Piastri.
“This is wrong. I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I am not going to drive for Alpine next year.”
The final affirmation suggests that Alpine F1 Team and Oscar Piastri’s contract status for 2023 is proceeding without mutual consent.
Alpine F1 Team boss Otmar Szafnauer told the media on Tuesday morning that the team and Oscar Piastri are under contract for 2023, but subject to the exercise of options held by either party, 2024. He said he could also sign a deal.
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that Oscar Piastri has signed a provisional contract with McLaren. The deal was brokered by Piastri’s manager and former F1 driver Mark Webber.
However, the legal basis for Oscar Piastri’s free transfer to McLaren and no obligation to run for the Alpine F1 team is unclear.
“Even if he has a prior arrangement with McLaren, I am not involved in it,” said Otmar Szafnauer ahead of Alpine F1 Team’s press release.
“But I’ve heard the same rumors in the pitlane. But what I do know is that he has contractual obligations to us, and we are to him. We have obligations, and we have honored those obligations all year long.”
“And those obligations will last until 2023, and possibly until 2024 if some options are taken.”
“This year our obligation to him was to be a reserve driver and for a good amount of time to have him in last year’s car.
“We are well over half of our 5000km program with last year’s car in preparation for next year’s race, but this is not the point.”
“Also FP1, simulation work and we have fulfilled those obligations on both sides.”
“We therefore have a legal contract with him for the future of 2023, possibly 2024 if the option is exercised.”
“So I don’t know what he did to McLaren. Like I said, I’m not involved in it.”
I can only assume that Alpine, an affiliate of the Renault Group, had a strong legal basis to unilaterally confirm Oscar Piastri.
So, heading into 2023, Oscar Piastri’s interpretation of the forthcoming interpretation of why he believes he is not tied to his current employer, who has invested millions of dollars in his career, It will be interesting to hear his lawyer’s opinion.
Category: F1 / Oscar Piastri / Alpine