The Alpine and McLaren F1 teams believe they are entitled to the services of the Australian driver by 2023. And, by the Concord Agreement that governs F1, they are obliged to abide by the decision of the Contract Recognition Board , or CRB) , no longer take further legal action to try to change the decision made.
Formed after the controversy between Jordan and Benetton over the first signing of Michael Schumacher and the subsequent dismissal of Roberto Moreno at Benetton , the CRB often operates quietly in the background, only making the news when a high-profile dispute arises. .
That Board is referenced in the FIA Sporting Regulations in Appendix 5, but that section is actually blank, and there is a note that reads “reserved for the exclusive use of competitors entered in the Formula 1 World Championship of the FIA”.
The complete details of its operation are included in the Agreement of Concord, so they are not public and not excessively known, not even within the F1 paddock.
The CRB exists independently of the FIA. Its function is to indicate to the highest body which team has a valid contract with a driver and is entitled to use a super license on his behalf.
Its daily function is to store all the contracts of the F1 racing, reserve and test drivers, or at least the most important sections; teams are not necessarily required to submit all documentation, as full contracts are complex and cover marketing issues, advertising commitment clauses, etc.
When a dispute arises, three attorneys meet and review evidence from all parties. They are required to give a result within three days of the hearing.
In two of the CRB’s most famous cases, a driver’s original team won and the team that wanted to take him lost. That was when David Coulthard tried to leave Williams for McLaren in 1995, and when Jenson Button wanted to move from BAR to Williams a decade later.
David Coulthard stayed at Williams in 1995 but moved to McLaren the following year.
One man who has experience with the CRB process – and who got the result he wanted – is Timo Glock. At a time when video calls were not yet so common, his hearing was held in person. As is often the case, the dispute revolved around the details of a clause.
“I was a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2007,” the German told Motorsport.com. “And then I was offered a starting seat at Toyota, and BMW had to apply the clause of giving me a starting seat with them, which they didn’t do. But at the time they had said yes.
“I don’t even remember how many were sitting in the room, but there were lawyers involved looking both ways. Everyone had to explain their statement. BMW put their opinion on the table. And we put our opinion. And then they make the decision. “.
“They decided that there was no offer from BMW, that I had one from Toyota, and that I was free to go. It was a bit of an awkward situation, but we had to go there, because from our point of view and the CRB’s, the situation was clear”.
“They wanted to keep me as a reserve, but in the end they didn’t give me a starting seat, they didn’t take the option they had on me. So it was pretty easy and it was done quickly. I think this Monday it might take a little longer.”
Glock says it was a good process: “If you have issues like this, and you have a clear opinion from outside counsel or the board of directors, who clearly have no bias, and just go by the law, I think it’s good to have. Otherwise, it would be an eternal fight.”
The signing of Glock by Toyota was translated for 2008
“It’s going to be interesting how they decide on Piastri, and what kind of legal situation they’re in. Each side has their own point of view.”
Should Alpine win the case at the CRB, it does not necessarily mean that Oscar Piastri will be racing for the Enstone outfit in 2023. Given the controversy surrounding his attempted transfer to McLaren, it is clear that the relationship has soured so much. that, in fact, forcing him to drive would make little sense to both parties. In that case, Alpine would have the option to set a price and sell it to McLaren.
However, Alpine could also, in theory, take into account the interest of other teams that wanted to sign Piastri, or swap him for another driver under contract with another team, such as Pierre Gasly.
If McLaren fails to land Piastri, either through the CRB’s decision or a subsequent deal with Alpine, it will have to find another driver to replace Daniel Ricciardo.
If Alpine loses, there is also the possibility of legal action being taken, though not to reclaim their services. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer has indicated that Alpine would consider a claim for damages to recover money spent on its testing and training programmes.
