Oscar Piastri says he twice told Alpine he would be leaving the team before they “falsely” announced him as a 2023 driver; In his first interview since being confirmed at McLaren for 2023, Piastri says whole saga was “bizarre and upsetting”
By Matt Morlidge at Zandvoort
Last Updated: 03/09/22 9:45am
New McLaren signing Oscar Piastri has accused Alpine of “bizarre” actions in handling his Formula 1 future and says it was “very upsetting” to be falsely announced as a 2023 driver after telling the team he was leaving.
In his first interview since the F1 transfer saga was settled with a Contract Recognition Board ruling, Piastri also revealed there was a “breakdown in trust” with Alpine and he is confident in proving himself at McLaren.
“To be completely honest, there was a lack of clarity around my future at the team at Alpine,” Piastri, who will partner Lando Norris as a rookie on the grid next season, told F1.
“They publicly stated they wished to continue with Fernando [Alonso] for at least one or two more years. I respect that.
“But after spending the year out, my hopes were firmly set on an Alpine seat and the lack of clarity and, similarly to Fernando, a bit of a strange feeling in negotiations, it didn’t feel like it was the right decision for me [to stay around].
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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater explains the Alpine errors that led to them losing their contract battle against McLaren over Oscar Piastri.
“The lack of clarity around my future, and ultimately a breakdown in trust, I felt the very attractive offer of McLaren and the positive dealings with them thus far were all reasons why I felt McLaren was where I was best off for the future.”
Piastri has been an Alpine junior driver since 2019 and has established himself as one of motorsport’s most successful juniors. It was always presumed that he would step up from reserve driver to the grid with the French team.
Piastri has been regarded as motorsport’s most talented youngster for some time. Piastri claimed three single-seater championships in a row from 2019, while his feat of back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles is one only achieved before by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. But while Leclerc and Russell immediately landed seats in F1 after their triumphs, Piastri had to settle for being Alpine’s reserve driver in 2022.
Alpine even announced him as Alonso’s replacement at the start of August, only for Piastri to deny there was an agreement with a now infamous social media post.
Piastri claims he had twice told Alpine he wouldn’t be driving with them in 2023 before their announcement, stating: “My decision was made well in advance [of Alonso’s departure], which made Alpine’s announcement probably even more confusing and upsetting because we had told the team that I wasn’t going to continue.
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McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl talks to Sky Sports following the announcement that Oscar Piastri will drive for McLaren in 2023.
“It was quite upsetting as the announcement was false and it also denied me the opportunity to properly say goodbye to everyone at Enstone.
“I had been with the team for a bit over two and a half years now, and for the rest of the team to find out I was leaving in that manner was very upsetting. I still haven’t had the opportunity to say goodbye and it’s something I want to do to show my gratitude to all the men and women at Enstone.”
Piastri was told Alpine were putting the announcement out during a simulator session at Alpine and team boss Otmar Szafnauer said that Piastri had “smiled and said thank you” at being told of the news.
But Piastri has called that a “bizarre and frankly upsetting episode”.
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Former World Champion Jenson Button believes Oscar Piastri shouldn’t make enemies so early in his F1 career amid a contract dispute between Apline and McLaren.
“It was done publicly in front of some members of the team who were oblivious to the situation and I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of them,” said the Australian. “Once we were in private, I told Otmar what our position was and what he had been told multiple times before that. It was very surprising to me to make that announcement.”
Looking back on his tweet, which said Alpine’s announcement was “wrong” and that he will “not be driving for Alpine next year”, Piastri says he and his management team, which includes ex-F1 driver Mark Webber, felt it was necessary.
“It was the biggest moment of my career and probably my life up to now,” he explained.
“To have that falsely announced was something my management and I felt we had to correct and there was also potential legal implications if we didn’t deny the announcement.
“It was not intended to be pointed or in any way anything more than factual. The last line was quite a strong one, but with the CRB ruling, it shows it was purely a fact.”
