The highly-rated young Australian previously looked set to be forced to look elsewhere for a seat in 2023, with Alpine initially intent on keeping Alonso. While there were suggestions he could be loaned out to Williams, it is understood Piastri and his manager Mark Webber were trying to secure a deal with McLaren as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement. But with Alonso out of the picture and Alpine having a contractual call-up on Piastri’s services to put him in an F1 racing position, that has now changed – and his current bosses claim to have him on board for 2023. Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes a line-up of Piastri and Ocon in 2023 would put the team on the right track towards its ultimate long-term ambitions of returning to the front of the grid. “Oscar is a brilliant and rare talent,” he said. “We are proud to have nurtured him and supported him through the difficult paths of junior formula. Through our partnership over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver who is more than capable of making the step up to Formula 1. “As our reserve driver he has been exposed to the team at the track, factory and testing where he has shown the maturity, promise and speed to secure his promotion to our second position alongside Esteban. “Together, we believe the duo will give us the continuity we need to achieve our long-term goal of challenging for wins and championships.” Read also: Interestingly, Alpine’s release announcing the addition of Piastri didn’t include a quote from the Australian himself – further fueling theories that the matter may not be as settled as it seems. Speaking earlier in the day, Szafnauer had explained that the team had not made an immediate deal with Piastri because things had not been fully settled. “So Oscar and his camp are looking at their options, whatever that means,” Szafnauer said. Pressed further on the matter, Szafnauer said the contractual arrangements his team had with Piastri meant there was no doubt he could be called up for next year. “What I do know is that he has contractual obligations to us,” he added. “And we do to him. And we honor these obligations throughout the year. “And these obligations last until ’23, and possibly ’24, if some choices are made. “And our obligations to him this year were to be a reserve driver, to also put him in last year’s car for a significant period of time. We are over half way through this 5000km program, which is no small feat, in last year’s car, in preparation for a race next year. “Also the FP1s, simulation work, and we carry out those obligations on both sides. So he played, we played. “So we have a legitimate contract with him going forward for ’23. And if he’s chosen, for ’24. So I don’t know what he’s done with McLaren. Like I said, I’m not aware of that.” The nature of Alpine’s release – which includes wording about deals already in place – could be seen as an attempt by the team to publicize that it has a contractual call on Piastri for 2023. This would act as a firm warning to other teams that are trying to sign him and that they could be in for a lawsuit if they continue to pursue him.
