What happens to Oscar Piastre?
His future in Alpine or McLaren will affect the entire starting field for F1 2023.
The big talk ahead of this week’s Grand Prix in Zandvoort in the Netherlands is not about what’s happening on the track but what’s happening outside. It’s about Oscar Piastre and which team he will lead next year. Albin introduced him as a driver, and he himself denied it and hoped for McLaren.
– I told Oscar that we would introduce him as a chauffeur. Alpine team manager Otmar Szafnauer said in a call with the Belgium GP he was sitting in our simulator when we spoke to him.
According to Siefnauer, Piastre laughed and said he was grateful for the opportunity.
– Then we sent the press release.
What is driving Oscar Piastre in 2023?
The fact that there was no quote from Piastri in the press release makes it clear to Szafnauer that there was no time.
– We didn’t want him sending him back and forth between the team and his manager, explained the manager of the Alpine stable, who also notes that he is disappointed with Piastri’s actions because he considers himself to have been promised by the young talent.
– The contract runs until 2024 with an option at the end of 2023. That’s all I can say. There is more in the agreement but I don’t want to talk about the details.
During the week before the competition in the Netherlands, the CRB (Contract Recognition Board) will review the case and act as an independent judge. They will decide whether Piastri should stay with Alpine or let him switch to McLaren and could give new energy to discussions about the drivers who will compete in F1 2023.
According to motorsport.com, Oscar Piastre is likely to lead McLaren next year. The site writes that Pierre Gasly is next at the top of Alpine’s wish list as a driver next to Esteban Ocon. He is French and is an expert Formula One driver who has also won races.
But he has a contract with AlphaTauri.
Colton Hertha to F1?
Can it be broken? When Motorsport.com asked a Red Bull motorsport consultant about the Hungarian Grand Prix, the answer was:
– Yes, we have a good relationship.
On Saturday, in connection with the race in Belgium, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko and McLaren CEO Zak Brown met, what was discussed is unclear, but it is rumored that Brawn is trying to pull some leads he can pull.
This could mean there will be an American driver in F1 next year – namely Konton Herta. It would be a good deal for McLaren, but also for Liberty Media who wants an American driver in F1 and also for Red Bull who definitely wants to sell more energy drinks in the US and clothing from the AlphaTauri brand.
However, there is a problem. Herta doesn’t have the super license required for F1 just yet, and then there’s talk of other names for Alpine, such as Daniel Ricciardo, Mick Schumacher, Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire and former alpine junior Guanyu Zhou who now drives an Alfa Romeo.
When will Audi come to Formula 1?
Audi is on its way to Formula 1. In 2026, the German manufacturer stepped in, but if it leaves Alfa Romeo in 2023, Audi may start buying the team already at that time. Audi is expected to start buying 25% of Finn Rausing (Tetra Pak who also supports Marcus Ericsson in his career and Ericsson used to drive for Alfa Romeo). We’ll see where this goes.
Did you miss the live chat and Q&A last Thursday? I have asked questions on sportbladet.se or Tiktok. I answered to the best of my ability. Everything is collected in our podcast, “Plattan i Mattan”.
Spa Francorchamps remains on the calendar. Next year at least. The circuit is a classic and has been raced since 1921, but the Belgian Grand Prix hasn’t been held here every year since Formula 1 began in 1950. Here you can read more about Max Verstappen’s dominance during the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix.
Fraction: #BelgianGP Will return in 2023 # F1 pic.twitter.com/zrJ0uKlUtV
– Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2022