After days of confusion, Alpine’s reserve driver Oscar Piastri has finally confirmed his next move. He has agreed a deal to race for McLaren in 2023.
After the recent transfer saga, Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri’s future is finally known. He has agreed to terms with Formula One team McLaren for the 2019 season. Piastri will take over for Daniel Ricciardo in Formula One next season. His departure follows Fernando Alonso’s signing with Aston Martin. Previously, Renault’s F1 team stated that Piastri will replace Alonso in their lineup.
Alpine revealed this week that Piastri will replace Fernando Alonso next season following the two-time champion’s surprise departure to Aston Martin. Aton Martin’s four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel opted to retire from Formula One at the end of this season, prompting Alonso’s transfer. Piastri, on the other hand, astonished everyone by declining his promotion. He said on Twitter, “I will not be driving for Alpine next year,” causing humiliation for the French F1 team.
The contract recognition board of the Formula One Association has approved Piastri’s new contract with McLaren over his old arrangement with Alpine. The board determined that Alpine and Piastri did not have a legitimate contract, allowing McLaren to complete their transaction with Piastri.
Australia-born Piastri began racing remote-controlled vehicles when he was six years old. By the age of nine, he was driving go-karts. After winning the Formula Renault Eurocup title in 2019, Piastri joined Alpine as a reserve driver. In one of the most tightly contested championships ever, he won the Formula 3 Championship by three points in 2020. Piastri won six races in the Formula 2 competition last year. After Charles Leclerc in 2017 and George Russell in 2018, he became the third rookie champion.
For next year, Piastri will team up with Lando Norris at McLaren, while Alpine is left with Esteban Ocon as their primary F1 driver. There is no confirmation who will take the second seat in the French team. As for Daniel Ricciardo, there is no news of him moving to any other team as of yet.