Alpine announced that the Australian will drive for the French team next season. But he now contradicts – in clear words.
Actually, everything seemed to be set: After Fernando Alonso switched to Aston Martin in 2023, Alpine announced on Tuesday evening that top talent Oscar Piastri will drive for the French next season (read more about this here).
But now the blow: Hours later, Piastri contradicted the Alpine announcement – with clear words: “Alpine F1 published a press release without my consent in the late afternoon, according to which I will drive for them next year. That is wrong, I have no contract with them Alpine signed for 2023,” Piastri wrote on Twitter. And further: “I will not drive for Alpine next year.”
Several teams are courting the Australian
Piastri is considered to be a very talented driver, and other racing teams have also had their eye on the Australian. In 2020 he triumphed in Formula 3, the following year he secured the title in Formula 2 – a double blow that only Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and George Russell (Mercedes), who are now among the stars in the premier class, had previously succeeded in doing.
“Oscar is a radiant and rare talent,” Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer was quoted as saying in the press release: “We are proud to have encouraged and supported him on the difficult paths of the junior series. Through our cooperation over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver more than capable of taking the step into Formula 1.”