The Board agrees with Piastri and Alpine loses the pilot in 2023

Following Alonso’s departure for Aston Martin, the Alpine team was quick to announce their reserve, Oscar Piastri, as a substitute. However, that same day, the young Australian went to social networks to deny that promotion and ensure that in fact he would not drive for the French team in 2023.

It was learned that Piastri, 2021 F2 champion, had signed an agreement with McLaren for next year, but Alpine insisted that Piastri’s contract with them was until the end of 2023 with the possibility of extending it until 2024.

So convoluted was the situation, that the Contract Recognition Board [CRB] had to intervene to determine who the pilot belonged to, and after meeting on Monday, just after the Belgian GP, it has concluded that the reason is for the pilot, that he will be able to sign for McLaren to debut in Formula 1 next year.

McLaren has already confirmed its agreement with Piastri, having agreed Ricciardo’s departure at the end of this season.

McLaren has already won one of the two messes it had with drivers from other teams. The other is the one he maintains with Chip Ganassi after announcing the signing of Alex Palou. What is clear is that the arrival of Piastri would leave the Spaniard without a place in F1 and, in the event that he finally ends up at McLaren, it will be necessary to see where those from Woking place Palou himself and Pato O’Ward among their programs in IndyCar, Formula E and even Extreme E.

For his part, Alpine will have to find a partner for Esteban Ocon. The most obvious option seems to be the return of Daniel Ricciardo, although the option of Pierre Gasly has recently emerged. Also on the shortlist is a Mick Schumacher who Ocon would welcome, and who knows if Alpine could pull in another of their young talents…

Last weekend, Alpine director Otmar Szafnauer said he would like Piastri to have more integrity, recalling that they have supported him throughout his career as a junior in the F1 ladder categories. In addition, he revealed that shortly before announcing Piastri’s promotion, he himself communicated it face to face to a Piastri who would have reacted “with a smile and thanking him.”

However, the team did not activate the renewal clause in time and the driver decided to take advantage of the opportunity in another historic team that, by the way, is currently behind Alpine in the 2022 constructors’ championship.

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