McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has revisited Oscar Piastri’s turbulent switch from Alpine, accusing the French team of using a press release to “bully” the Australian into compliance.
Brown’s Allegation
Speaking to Mail Sport, Brown said Alpine’s 2022 announcement naming Piastri as Esteban Ocon’s 2023 team-mate “was used to bully him into doing what they wanted.”
He added, “The CRB ordered them to pay our expenses, so that tells you what they made of the situation.”
Brown also criticised then team boss Otmar Szafnauer, stating, “He [Szafnauer] got caught with his pants down.”
Piastri’s Ascendancy
Since joining McLaren, Piastri contributed to the 2024 constructors’ title and has won four of six races this year, emerging as a championship favourite.
Alpine’s Perspective
Alpine maintained the announcement reflected genuine contractual belief, but the Contract Recognition Board ultimately sided with McLaren, costing Alpine legal fees and prestige.
Bullying in F1
Sports lawyer Sarah Clements notes that public statements without driver consent “border on reputational coercion,” potentially breaching employment norms.
Looking Forward
Brown’s comments arrive as Alpine contemplates future driver changes, and they underscore evolving standards for how teams manage talent in a hyper-public arena.