Oscar Piastri will drive for the Formula 1 team McLaren in 2023 and 2024, his contract with the British team having been deemed valid unlike that which Alpine thought he had with the young Australian, the International Federation of Motorsport announced on Friday. automotive (FIA).
We have signed 2021 F2 champion @OscarPiastri.
Oscar joins Lando to form our exciting F1 driver line-up from 2023.
Full story. ⬇️
—McLaren (@McLarenF1) September 2, 2022
Piastri, 21, was at the heart of a legal tangle, with McLaren and Alpine claiming to have a contract with the driver for next season. Finally, the F1 Contract Recognition Board (CRB), an ad hoc arbitration body, ruled in favor of McLaren. “The Court has rendered a unanimous decision that the only contract to be recognized by the Office is the contract between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr. Piastri dated July 4, 2022”, is it written in the decision of the instance, transmitted in a press release from the FIA.
A great hope for Formula 1
“Mr Piastri has the right to drive for McLaren Racing Limited for the 2023 and 2024 seasons”, it is specified. The CRB, made up for the occasion of four lawyers specializing in international sports law of four different nationalities, met on Monday to hear the parties.
McLaren immediately announced the signing of a “multi-year” contract with Piastri, who will team up with the Briton Lando Norris. Piastri is considered a great hope for Formula 1, having won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, then Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2021), two stepping stones to the elite.
“We take note of the decision,” reacted the Alpine team. “We consider the matter closed on our end and will announce our full driver line-up for 2023 in due course.” After the surprise departure of Fernando Alonso, Piastri was announced by Alpine as his successor alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon. But the Australian was quick to deny it, pointing out that he had no contract with the French team for next year. Oscar Piastri is currently Alpine’s reserve rider and has been trained in the Alpine academy for the past few years.