Former F1 driver[F1-Gate.com]"If you let go of the jewel called Piastri, it will be a big blunder"

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has called Oscar Piastri a ‘gem’ and blames the Alpine F1 team for the current turmoil.

The Alpine F1 team has been drawn into the center of a driver market storm after being surprised by Fernando Alonso’s shock decision to join Aston Martin F1 in place of retired Sebastian Vettel.

Alpine F1 Team then named reserve driver Oscar Piastri to replace Fernando Alonso for 2023, but the reigning F2 champion sensationally hit back, calling the deal “wrong” and “without my consent”. said it was announced in

Oscar Piastri is believed to have already agreed a deal to take over Daniel Ricciardo’s seat and drive for the McLaren F1 team in 2023.

Daniel Ricciardo has a contract with the McLaren F1 team that is valid for 2023, but it is reported that McLaren has already informed them of their intention to acquire Piastri as Ricciardo’s replacement.

Daniel Ricciardo could return to the Alpine F1 team he raced for Renault in 2019 and 2020 before moving to McLaren.

Formula 1 driver turned pundit Ralf Schumacher says it would be a “failure” for the Alpine F1 team to lose a “gem” like Oscar Piastri, who scored a hat-trick for the title in the junior championship. .

“There are a lot of rumors,” Ralf Schumacher told Sky Germany.

“One thing that was clear was that Alpine was not interested in having Piastri in the car next year because it turns out that young drivers need a certain amount of time to arrive in F1. because there is

“They wanted to keep him elsewhere for a year or two. Alpine had the option to put Piastri in the cockpit, but Fernando Alonso was not expected to leave, so was not exercised

“It would be a blunder to have such a gem and let it go. You can’t blame the young if you can’t design the contract right yourself.”

“One thing must not be forgotten: Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, has a very close relationship with McLaren’s team principal, Andreas Seidl.

Mick Schumacher believes Alpine F1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer is to blame for the ’embarrassing’ debacle.

“I like Otmar[Szafnauer]but he’s disappointed with his performance. He didn’t think he was going to Alonso, he didn’t have a plan B.”

“That’s the whole shame. So he has to blame himself. Oscar did nothing wrong.”

“In the end, Renault should have questioned Alonso’s character much earlier and told Piastri that they would be relying on him in the future.”

“He won F3 in his first year, as well as F2. What should he have waited for? Had he been offered, I would have done the same. And McLaren are definitely the top team. ”