Formula 1: Alpine’s announcement denied by driver Oscar Piastri

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Alpine announced that their reserve driver Oscar Piastri will be joining in as Fernando Alonso’s replacement for the 2023 season. However, the 21 year old Australian racing driver has denied any such claims and has said that he won’t be racing for Alpine next season, just an hour after the release of the original statement. Piastri is the reigning Formula 2 champion and has been in Alpine’s academy for four years. According to multiple sources, the driver has reached a pre-contract agreement with McLaren with Daniel Ricciardo’s future looking uncertain.

Taking to social media, Piastri tweeted “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." By making it clear that he won’t be driving for Alpine next year, a move to McLaren seems like the only realistic possibility for Piastri but it remains to be seen how the team (McLaren) manage to get Daniel Ricciardo out of the door as he has a watertight contract until 2023 which means that it cannot be terminated early.

A legal battle is expected between Alpine and Piastri as the Formula 1 team don’t want to risk losing a two time World Champion to their biggest competitor in the Constructors Standings. Moreover, Alpine has invested a tremendous amount in his development as a racing driver which also includes an ongoing 5,000km testing programme of F1 machinery. What started this whole affair was Fernando Alonso’s shock announcement of moving to Aston Martin, a decision that Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer only found out through a press release on Monday. McLaren on the other hand have also signed Alex Palou to its IndyCar team despite his former team Chip Ganassi saying that he remains under contract with them.

Also read: Fernando Alonso to replace Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in 2023

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