Following the signing of Fernando Alonso by Aston Martin, the Alpine team was quick to confirm their intention to give Piastri the starting job for 2023.
However, the French team already knew that Piastri had also signed a contract with McLaren F1, and that he intended to drive for the Woking team.
Piastri was quick to take to social media to make it clear that he had no intention of taking the Alpine seat, concluding his message with “this is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.” “.
Piastri’s rejection of the team that invested in his career has not been well received throughout the paddock, especially by teams that also have junior programs and support young drivers as they work their way up the ladder to reach F1.
“I have bigger problems than enjoying sitting on the balcony watching this show to see the show unfold in front of my eyes,” Wolff said when asked by Motorsport.com for his thoughts on the state of the driver market.
“I think it’s important that junior programs be respected. I think some guys should be careful on Twitter about what they’ve said about multinational organizations. But I’m not aware of contracts.”
“I believe in karma, I believe in integrity. But I’m not here to judge because, as I said, I don’t know the legal situation,” the Mercedes boss continued.
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner , who has seen dozens of drivers pass through the energy drink firm’s junior program over the years, also stressed the importance of loyalty.
“I don’t fully understand it, because by contract this should never happen,” he told Sky F1 .
“I think if Renault and Alpine have invested in their junior career, it’s because you’re investing in the youth, because you’re investing in it for the future, and there has to be an element of loyalty within that.
“So I don’t understand, obviously, what’s going on there contractually. But the fact that he’s in a position where he thinks he doesn’t have to drive for Alpine next year obviously shows there’s something wrong.
“I hope it gets sorted out. He’s another great young talent. He drove for the Arden team in Formula 4, Formula Renault, so I know him quite well.
“He’s a great talent that should be on the grid. There’s probably been a little more fuss around his debut than there should have been.”
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has made it clear that the team will review its support for junior drivers.
“Surely there are lessons to learn,” the American said. “We will take a good look back and, like everything, we will analyze, and if there are some things that we can improve, I am sure that we will incorporate them in our future deals,” he concluded in reference to including clearer clauses in future contracts.
