Reigning F2 champion Oscar Piastri has been at the center of a contract saga involving McLaren and the Alpine F1 team in recent weeks, but the FIA’s contract approval committee has ruled that he will not make his F1 debut with McLaren in 2023. has decided.
Oscar Piastri climbed the junior rankings as part of the Alpine academy, but it turns out the team doesn’t have a valid contract for him to drive in Formula 1 for 2023.
It’s the story that made F1 history bigger this summer, with Christian Horner previously saying “something is wrong” that Oscar Piastri doesn’t have a solid push with the Alpine F1 team. .
In the latest episode of F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Christian Horner said it was “difficult” to comment on Oscar Piastri’s situation, but said the deal would have been perfect if he had been under the Red Bull umbrella. Piastri in fact revealed that he had the opportunity a few years ago before moving on to F3.
“He drove for the Arden team in Formula 4 and Formula Renault and was clearly an important talent,” said Horner.
“At the time Red Bull had the opportunity to consider it, but we didn’t opt for that option, which I regret. But what they did in F3 and F2 is phenomenal.”
“If he was the driver here, there’s no way he wasn’t locked up for a period of time. As I said, I wasn’t the party. What was promised, what was destroyed. It’s hard to tell if
“But it was certainly unexpected in some areas.”
Oscar Piastri raced in British F4 and Formula Renault Eurocup in 2017-2018 for Arden, a junior team founded by Christian Horner. He eventually joined the Renault Academy in early 2020 before winning two consecutive titles in F3 and F2.
Christian Horner said the impact of Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave the Alpine F1 team for Aston Martin in 2023 “created ripples and spread to numerous places, now including Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri. I yes, “he said.
After losing a contractual suit to keep Oscar Piastri in 2023, the Alpine F1 team has turned its attention to hiring current AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly.
Red Bull will only agree to release Pierre Gasly if a replacement driver is deployed.
Plans to hire IndyCar driver Colton Herta were scrapped after the FIA turned down F1 Superlicense exemption, with Nick de Vries now emerging as a candidate for the AlphaTauri seat.
While Red Bull is not believed to be considering an existing young driver for promotion to F1 in 2023, Horner believes Red Bull’s junior program is still in good shape.
“We continue to invest in young people. We have great young people in the program, from karting to moving to F4,” said Horner.
“I think Red Bull has done a great job giving children a chance, investing in young talent and giving them opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
“Isaac Hajar in Formula 3 this year had a very good debut season. I think Ayumu Iwasa in Formula 2 was an exceptional driver for me. They are only two people on the program.”
“Liam Lawson had a tough year, but he showed another talent again. Dennis Hauger was a little disappointed in F2 after a dominant year in F3. But still. But how much is he and how much equipment is he?”
