Juan Manuel Correa shares a physio with Oscar Piastri and says Alpine have been “playing” with the Aussie.
Piastri has been in the news more than ever in recent times, caught in the middle of a dispute between Alpine and McLaren.
When Alpine lost Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin, they announced that Piastri – their reserve driver and academy product – would replace him.
However, Piastri then tweeted that he wouldn’t be driving for the team in 2023. It soon emerged that he did so because he’d already entered an agreement with McLaren.
READ: ‘I believe in karma’: Toto Wolff sends warning to Oscar Piastri
With the British team announcing that Daniel Ricciardo will leave at the end of the current campaign, it looks all but certain that Piastri will indeed replace his compatriot.
He has been criticised by many for this given it was Alpine who developed him and invested in him, but according to Formula 3 driver Correa, it’s not that clear cut.
He has some knowledge of the situation as they share the same physio, and says that Alpine were messing the reigning F2 champion around, not keeping their promises.
“I don’t know how much I should say, the thing is my physio this year is actually Oscar’s full-time physio, so I know quite a bit about it,” Correa said.
“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.
“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.”
Correa is confident that Piastri will end up driving for McLaren next season and hopes that’s the case, feeling that he deserves it.
READ: ‘It’s no secret’: Alpine warned Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly line-up could create problems
“I think he will be racing at McLaren next year,” he added.
“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.”
Who will drive for Alpine instead is unclear, with Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher the initial favourites before Pierre Gasly emerged as their first choice in recent days.
That would most likely leave Haas the choice between Ricciardo and Schumacher, with whoever they don’t pick likely to leave the grid.