Oscar Piastri’s situation with the Alpine F1 Team looks set to reach an end, with the FIA’s contract recognition board having started its hearing on Monday regarding the Australian’s status as either an Alpine driver or a McLaren driver.
The situation arose after Piastri refused to drive for Alpine in 2023, to replace Fernando Alonso, despite the team deeming him to be contracted to race for them.
After Alonso announced that he’d be moving to the Aston Martin F1 Team next season, Alpine released a statement that Piastri would be promoted to race alongside Esteban Ocon.
However, whilst messages of congratulations began to build-up on social media, Piastri released his own unbelievable statement.
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The 21-year-old revealed that he hadn’t agreed to race for Alpine in 2023, and crucially won’t be doing so either.
Piastri’s statement read: “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. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Piastri has reportedly signed a deal to replace Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren, hence his refusal to race for the Enstone-based side.
Alpine are furious with the 2021 F2 World Champion, who they are certain is contracted to them.
Should he not be, then Alpine have expressed their intent to sue Piastri for compensation, after spending millions of dollars to prepare him for F1.
The CRB will determine if Piastri has indeed broken his contract with Alpine, or if what has happened is actually completely legal.
F3 driver Juan Manuel Correa has given his thoughts on the situation, with the Ecuadorian having some inside information on the saga, due to him sharing the same physio as Piastri.
Correa believes Alpine have “played” both Piastri and Alonso, with the French team only having themselves to blame.
Alpine supposedly failed to offer Piastri “what they had promised”, with the situation being more the team’s fault, than the Australian’s.
“I don’t know how much I should say,” Correa said on Sky Sports’ Any Driven Monday when asked about it.
“The thing is my physio this year is actually Oscar’s full-time physio.
“So, I know quite a bit about it. From my perspective and what is public knowledge, I think it is actually more of Alpine’s fault. They were playing a little bit with Oscar and Fernando.
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“They didn’t give Oscar I think what they had promised, and any driver in his position would have done what he did.
“That’s what I think, from what I know. But of course, the sport loves drama. I think the hearing was this morning, but I think he will be racing at McLaren next year. And I hope so for him because he deserves an F1 seat.
“It was already a shame that he didn’t get a seat immediately last year. So, at least now he will get his chance.”