“In accordance with the team’s commitments to the Australian, Oscar will be promoted to race driver and will take the wheel of Fernando Alonso from next year”, Alpine had stated in a statement on Tuesday. But less than two hours later, Piastri denied this information on his social networks.
I will not be an Alpine rider next year
Oscar Piastri
“I understand that Alpine F1, without my consent, released a press release in the afternoon saying that I would drive for them next year. It is false and I have not signed any contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be an Alpine driver next year. “Declared the 21-year-old pilot on his social networks.
Piastri had been named Alpine reserve rider at the start of 2022, while Alonso announced on Monday that he was leaving for Aston Martin for next season.
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
Thanks to an agreement between Alpine and McLaren from the beginning of 2022, the Australian is also a reserve driver in the British team, which would court the young driver for a steering wheel next year in Formula 1.
Piastri trained with the French team, joining Alpine’s academy in 2019 after his Formula Renault Eurocup title.
the australian won the Formula 3 championship the following season, and the Formula 2 championship in 2021, before becoming a reserve driver for the French team.
This promotion seemed to mark in Alpine a desire for generational change, since the Australian will take the wheel of Alonso, who at 41 is almost twice his age.
The leader of Alpine, currently fourth in the constructors’ championship, Otmar Szafnauer, assured that Piastri is “more than ready to move on to Formula 1”. “Oscar is a brilliant and rare talent. We are proud to have groomed and supported him throughout his journey,” he stated.
Together with Esteban Ocon, present within the French team since 2020, when it was still called Renault, Piastri was announced to complete the Alpine duo.
“Together, we believe this duo will provide us with the continuity we need to achieve our long-term goal of fighting for wins and titles,” Szafnauer said.