Oscar Piastri has released a statement in which he denies he has signed a deal to race in F1 with Alpine in 2023.
On Tuesday afternoon, Alpine announced that it was promoting its current reserve driver to a race seat with the team from next season, with Piastri thus replacing Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso.
Oddly, Alpine’s press release came without a single quote from Piastri, or even a reaction from the latter on his social media channels.
But the Aussie took to Twitter on Tuesday evening to express his surprise at Alpine’s press release, insisting it was put out without his agreement.
“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,” Piastri wrote.
“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
The last affirmation suggests that his 2023 contractual situation with Alpine is concerned is cut and dried as far as Piastri is concerned.
However, Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer told the media earlier today that both Alpine and Piastri are contracted to each other for 2023, but also potentially for 2024 depending on the exercise of an option held by either party.
Rumors have been circulating that Piastri has signed a preliminary agreement with McLaren, a deal brokered by the Aussie’s manager, former F1 driver Mark Webber.
But it’s unclear on what legal basis Piastri considers he has a free path to McLaren and therefore is not obligated towards Alpine.
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.
— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022
“I’m not privy to whatever pre-arrangements he has with McLaren, if any at all,” Szafnauer said earlier on Tuesday before Alpine announced that Piastri would be racing in F1 with the Enstone squad.
“But I hear the same rumours that you do in the pitlane. But what I do know is that he does have contractual obligations to us. And we do to him. And we’ve been honouring those obligations all year.
“And those obligations, last through ’23, and possibly in ’24, if some options are taken up.
“And our obligations to him this year was to be a reserve driver, to also put him in last year’s car for a significant amount of time.
©Alpine
“We’re well over half that programme of 5000 kilometres, which isn’t insignificant, in last year’s car, in preparation for a race next year.
“Also FP1s, simulation work, and we’ve been performing those obligations on both sides. So he’s been performing, we’ve been performing.
“So therefore we do have a legal contract with him into the future for ’23. And if an option is taken up, for ’24.
” So I don’t know what he’s done with McLaren. Like I said, I’m not privy to that.”
Alpine might consider contacting IndyCar’s Chip Ganassi for legal advice…
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