He announced the deal on Tuesday afternoon, the day after he found out Alonso would be leaving at the end of the campaign. However, just hours after Alpine’s announcement, Piastri took to social media to insist he had not signed anything with the team and would not be racing for it in 2023. “I understand that, without my consent, Alpine F1 issued a press release late this afternoon that I will be driving for them next year,” Piastri wrote. “This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not ride for Alpine next year.” It is understood his comments come in the wake of a push Piastri and his management have made to secure a place at McLaren for next year. There have been suggestions that the youngster may even have a pre-contract with McLaren, which meant that if the options ran out at Alpine then he would be committed to joining the Woking team. It is widely understood that as part of his long-term deal with Alpine, he had to guarantee Piastri a 2023 F1 race seat by a certain date if he was to stay under contract. Read also: Oscar Piastri, Alps Photo by: Alpine The key to the matter now will be whether such a date came to play and that there was a window where Alpine’s rights were removed. But despite Piastri’s statement and his clear belief that he will not race for it in 2023, Alpine is understood to be adamant that its contract is based on solid legal grounds. It means that if there ends up being a dispute between Piastri and another team, then it may have to be settled by the Formula 1 Contracts Recognition Board. The body of independent lawyers will then read the terms of the contracts Piastri has and determine who has rights to him for the coming year. Speaking ahead of Piastri’s announcement on Tuesday, team principal Otmar Szafnauer said he had no doubt Alpine had the right to his services for next year. “We have the right to take him,” he said. “We have priority.”
