Formula 1 team Alpine has announced that Oscar Piastri will replace Spaniard Fernando Alonso in 2023 as driver alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon. The Australian denied a little later in the evening.
“In line with the team’s commitments to the Australian, Oscar will be promoted to racing driver and will take over the wheel of Fernando Alonso from next year“, Alpine had indicated in a press release issued at the end of the afternoon. But less than 2 hours later, Piastri denied this information…
“From what I understand, Alpine F1, without my consent, issued a press release at the end of the afternoon indicating that I was going to drive for them next year. This is false and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be a driver for Alpine next year“, declared the pilot of 21 years, on the social networks.
Piastri had been named reserve driver at Alpine at the start of 2022 and appeared to be Alonso’s designated successor, who announced that he would join Aston Martin next season. Thanks to an agreement between Alpine and McLaren, the Australian is also a reserve driver with the British team, which is courting the young driver.
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