F1 – Oscar Piastri: His two contracts with Alpine and McLaren validated

The paddocks are closed until the end of August, but the suspense continues outside the F1 circuits with the Oscar Piastri affair. This Tuesday, Auto Hebdo magazine reveals that the CRB (Contract Recognition Board), the Council for the recognition of contracts in F1, has validated the lease of the Australian prodigy with Alpine for 2022 … but also that with McLaren for the 2023 season. The case could be settled in court: Otmar Szafnauer, Team Principal of the French team, told Reuters he was sure « over 90% of going to the High Court« .

After the announcement of Fernando Alonso’s surprise departure from Aston Martin from 2023, Alpine announced the next day on Twitter the promotion of Oscar Piastri, its test driver and Formula 2 world champion in 2021. Problem: the 21-year-old driver denied on this same social network a few hours later, creating amazement in the world of F1. « This is wrong, I did not sign a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not drive for Alpine next year“wrote the Australian.

At the same time, McLaren would have informed Daniel Ricciardo of their desire to end their collaboration at the end of the 2022 season… with the idea of ​​replacing him with Oscar Piastri, who would agree to succeed the ex-Red Bull driver. The next few hours promise to be eventful and the eyes will not only be fixed on the track during the Grand Prix of Spa-Francorchamps.