Australian Oscar Piastri has denied that he will be an Alpine pilot in 2023.
When the clock struck 2:30 in Melbourne, Australia, the team Alpine decided to announce it Oscar Piastriborn in the Australian city 21 years ago, he will become Fernando Alonso’s replacement for the 2023 season.
However, less than two hours later, and certainly with a cell phone full of messages and calls, Piastri denied the possibility of occupying that seat, which became free after the Spaniard confirmed on Monday his move to Aston Martin, which will lose Sebastian Vettel. who will withdraw from Formula 1.
“I understand that, without my consent, Alpine F1 issued a press release late in the afternoon that I will drive for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I do not. I’ll be a guide for Alpine next year, next year “, remarked Piastri on social media.
After more than four years as an Alpine reserve driver and having achieved excellent results in the youth classes, the Australian will not team up with Frenchman Esteban Ocon next season.
The young driver was Formula 2 champion in 2021 and Formula 3 champion in 2020. Apparently, the reason he won’t join Alpine is that the McLaren team also had a pre-contract with the Australian driver.
“Oscar is a brilliant and unique talent. We are proud to have raised and supported him in the difficult courses of the junior formula. With our collaboration over the last four years, we have seen him grow, mature and become a driver who is more than capable of doing the step forward towards Formula 1 “, highlighted the team’s sporting director, Otmar Szafnauer.
To the great journey of the Australian must be added the success in Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019 and the surprising six victories with two races to go to certify his Formula 2 title. The pilot has completed a 2022 full of learning and is ready to take the big leap. But, apparently, he will not be in Alpine but in another team.
Meanwhile, the retirement of the German quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel has left a vacancy for the Spaniard. Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard announced on Monday that he will drive from next season Aston Martin and will have Canadian Lance Stroll as a partner in his new team.
Following the change of the Spanish team, Alpine announced the entry of Piastri and Ocon on Tuesday. “After four years in the Renault and Alpine family, our reserve driver Oscar Piastri is promoted and will occupy an official position together with Esteban Ocon from 2023“, announced the French team on their Twitter account.
Oscar Piastri will have his big chance in F1. Photo: Instagram
The departure of Fernando Alonso
A bombshell rocked the motorsports world on Monday when the two-time world champion was announced Fernando Alonso he would continue his Formula 1 career at Aston Martin. The 41-year-old Spaniard will replace Sebastian Vettel who announced his retirement last week.
The Spaniard won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. He took two gap years in 2019 and 2020 to race in other categories, including Indy 500 events. And now he will enter his 20th season in F1.
When it was speculated that his change for the team led by Lawrence Stroll was for money, the Spaniard himself gave his reasons: “Nobody in Formula 1 today shows more vision and absolute commitment to victory, and that’s what makes him very exciting opportunity for me, “said Aston Martin’s Alonso.
He added: “I still have the hunger and ambition to fight to be at the top and I want to be part of an organization committed to learning, development and success.”
Source: Clarin
