The ‘ silly season ‘ of the 2022 Formula 1 season began after the announcement of Sebastian Vettel’s retirement at the end of this course. The dismissal of the four-time German champion left an empty spot at Aston Martin that was soon filled by Fernando Alonso, who will surprisingly leave Alpine when his current deal ends to try to lead a team that is investing heavily in the future.
With those two moves, Alpine was left without one of its main references, although they hoped to have their young driver from the academy ready, Oscar Piastri , whom they had prepared with a development program that consisted of private tests with cars from previous years. . However, just a few hours after those from Enstone announced that the Australian would occupy the second seat of the team alongside Esteban Ocon, Piastri himself published a statement on his social networks in which he denied having signed a contract with Alpine.
Apparently, the one from Melbourne had an agreement with McLaren to join those from Woking from 2023 , since he had no obligation to the French, but everything has triggered a series of legal demands that must now be resolved by the highest motoring body .
The president of the FIA, Mohammed ben Sulayem , spoke for the first time about the events involving Oscar Piastri and the two Formula 1 teams, explaining that they must find a solution within the institution that governs the category.
“The FIA has a council to consider contract disputes, and it exists to decide which contract is more important, or whether the driver has concluded both agreements at the same time,” the international federation’s top official said. “Now we trust that the members there will make a decision that will put an end to this conflict.”
This council was formed in the early 1990s by Michael Schumacher, since he had an agreement with Jordan , but after he left for Benetton , he has several specialized lawyers at his disposal.
The problem in the Piastri case is that the FIA may refuse to take action, as it is rumored that the Australian never had a valid contract with the Alpine Formula 1 team, but with the French academy, and that made him be a reserve in the Great Circus.
Thus, it would be the academy of the Enstone team that could claim Piastri to comply with the obligations of the agreement, or financial compensation for spending on his development as a driver.
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