Alpine boss praises Schumacher
The arbitral tribunal must clarify Formula 1 troubles about talent
08/27/2022 12:54 p.m
Oscar Piastri causes a sensational dispute in Formula 1. Two racing teams insist on having a contract with the 21-year-old talent. A court must decide. In any case, a cockpit will be free – and Mick Schumacher could benefit from it.
The sensational Formula 1 contract dispute about motorsport talent Oscar Piastri is to be clarified on Monday before an arbitral tribunal of the International Automobile Federation FIA. This was confirmed by Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer on RTL/ntv on the sidelines of the Belgian Grand Prix (Sunday, 3 p.m./Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker): “We have a contract with him, he signed another one with McLaren. I think on Monday the CRB will decide which one is valid and will come into force. After that we will make our decision.” Szafnauer emphasized that he was “very confident” about the appointment before the Contract Recognition Board (CRB).
The 21-year-old Australian Piastri signed a new contract with Alpine last November, which is also valid for 2023 and also contains an option for the 2024 season, Szafnauer told the media. He firmly believes that “everything that needs to be in it can be found in this contract”. Alpine didn’t let a deadline pass, as he “read everywhere”. This was “fictitious,” said Szafnauer.
In early August, Alpine promoted reigning Formula 2 champion Piastri, who is currently acting as reserve driver, to succeed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso when the latter leaves the team for Aston Martin in early 2023. Piastri, however, refused. He also stated that he would not be tied to Alpine beyond the end of the season, which had invested a lot of money in his training.
Szafnauer asserted that Alpine had not made Piastri’s promotion public without his knowledge. The relationship is not destroyed either: “He is driving in our simulator this weekend and is helping the team. He is fulfilling the role of substitute driver as intended,” he said on RTL / ntv.
From Alonso “found out in the media”
The promotion became necessary because Alonso’s departure came very suddenly. Szafnauer said he had heard about it himself from the press. “We negotiated with Fernando with good intentions,” he said. Alonso emphasized that there was enough time and that the talks would continue a few days later. “Maybe he changed his mind overnight,” Szafnauer told RTL/ntv. “He could do it. He was a free agent, we all knew that and I think there was very little time between signing and announcing it. He called a few people but didn’t get through to me in the morning, so that’s why I said that I’m surprised because I found out about it in the media,” Szafnauer explained the process from his point of view.
However, the Alpine boss is not worried about the second half of the season: “Fernando is a professional who, as soon as he puts his helmet on, wants to finish as well as possible – both in qualifying and in the race. I have no doubts that he will give everything to the end.”
“Getting better and better”
Piastri, in turn, is said to have already signed a contract with McLaren, which will part ways with Daniel Ricciardo early at the end of the year. McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl did not want to answer questions about the Australian’s possible successor on Saturday.
Szafnauer was immediately confronted with the name of Ricciardo, who had driven for the team, then called Renault, in 2019 and 2020. “He’s been here before and I’ve never worked with Daniel. I only know him from his long time in Formula 1. He seems like a nice guy. Our engineers have only had good things to say, he’s a fast driver.” said the Alpine boss.
The American also commented on Mick Schumacher, whose contract with Haas is expiring: “It seems like he’s getting better and better. Recently he matched his teammate’s performance and his teammate is very good. I’m happy see him develop.”
The team only wants to deal with the question of who will be driving alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon for Alpine in 2023 “after Monday”. Namely, when it is clear whether Piastri is contractually bound.