The summer will be hot in the small world of F1. If, for the vast majority, the four-week truce is an opportunity to bask on the beaches in the sun, the sky has fallen on the head of Alpine, barely the Hungarian Grand Prix ended on Sunday. A year ago, the Franco-English manufacturer was indeed jubilant following Esteban Ocon’s victory at the Hungaroring. Today, he is at the heart of an incredible story that everyone laughs at.
Last Thursday, Sebastian Vettel, 35, announced that he would end his career at the end of the season. Several names are mentioned to succeed him at Aston Martin before the British team pulls out of its bowler hat the name of another veteran, also world champion: that of Fernando Alonso. At the end of the contract, the Spaniard (41) will therefore leave Alpine and his replacement is all found.
In an official press release, published Tuesday at 6:11 p.m., Alpine announces that Oscar Piastri will be its next driver alongside Esteban Ocon. The 21-year-old Australian, double F3 then F2 world champion, graduated from the Alpine Academy and is the reserve driver for the blue team. “Oscar is an immense talent, declared in December Laurent Rossi, the boss of Alpine. He has speed, racing spirit, maturity and has huge potential for the future. He is a valuable member of the team and we look forward to bringing more of his talent to Formula 1.”
A scathing disavowal
But, less than two hours later, Oscar Piastri launches a pavement on the social networks: “Without my agreement, Alpine published a press release to say that I will drive for them next season. This is false and I have not signed a contract with them for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next season”. The disavowal is scathing. Alpine has just lost two of its three drivers in quick succession and has become the laughing stock of F1 aficionados.
This incredible situation actually played out within a few hours. Alpine had to give an answer to Piastri before Sunday evening. Was Alonso’s announcement the next day just a coincidence? The French team, which did not expect it and which had nevertheless celebrated the Spaniard’s birthday on Friday, offered him a one-season contract with another option in the event of good results. The latter wanted more, which Aston Martin offered him.
Towards a return of Daniel Ricciardo?
But how to explain the reversal of Piastri, who had for his debut in the queen category the opportunity to drive with the 4th manufacturer of the paddock? Tired of waiting for a steering wheel, the young Australian would have, in all likelihood, yielded to the sirens of McLaren. Either Alpine’s competitor for 4th place in the constructors’ standings… and from which Alpine lent its young reserve driver during the season.
It now remains to be seen whether Alpine’s clause towards Piastri, despite the latter’s words, is valid or not. The Franco-British team says it is sure of its rights. If necessary, the case will be settled before the FIA Contract Recognition Council and independent lawyers who will examine the texts. “We have the right to take it. We have priority, ”said Otmar Szafnauer, the executive director of Alpine, who also admitted not having learned of Alonso’s defection until Monday morning via the Aston Martin press release.
The great F1 circus resumes on August 28 at Spa. By then, we should know a little more about the destiny of Alpine’s second seat in 2023. It seems strange that the firm clings to a driver, whatever his talent, who has expressed himself in such harsh terms against him. The names of Pierre Gasly and Théo Pourchaire are on everyone’s lips but they are linked to Alpha Tauri and Alfa Roméo. Nor will it be Alex Albon who has just extended at Williams. In the game of musical chairs, the place could in fact go to Daniel Ricciardo, who experienced a painful breakup two years ago with… Renault! The only certainty: Fernando Alonso will be there until the last Grand Prix, in Abu Dhabi at the end of November. If everything goes well…
