Australian for Australian? At first glance, it is quite clear, but everything is complicated by legal obstacles. Alpine believes it has a “claim” on Oscar Piastri. However, this is most likely not the case.
It is not clear whether the option expired on July 31 or whether Piastri’s managers (Mark Webber among them) are proceeding as they are because even at the turn of July and August, their charge did not have a contract for next year and there is no contract with Alpine.
The agreement between Piastre and McLaren is easier precisely because of the people in the background. Mark Webber raced in the WEC for Porsche before the end of his racing career after leaving F1, from where he is more than familiar with McLaren boss Andreas Seidl.
But Daniel Ricciardo has a contract for next year. Various speculations have appeared in recent hours. According to some, Piastri will only be a reserve driver for the British team next year and wait for the end of Ricciardo. He would sit in the racing seat in 2024. According to another, it has already been decided – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will race for McLaren next year.
British Autosport refers to its sources, according to which both speculations are not excluded. McLaren was actually supposed to sign Piastri to the role of reserve driver, but decided to promote him to the role of race driver. Ricciardo should already have been officially informed of this fact. Now all that remains is to agree on the terms of his departure.
Ricciardo could then head to Alpine if the team is (again) interested in him. He doesn’t have many other options – except perhaps Haas, if Steiner wants to say goodbye to Schumacher, but Maranello is also talking about these deals.
