Australia’s rising star Oscar Piastri ruled out racing for Renault-owned Alpine on Tuesday amid contract confusion only hours after he had been announced in the Formula One team’s 2023 driver lineup.
The 21-year-old, Alpine’s reserve and last year’s Formula Two champion, was set to replace double world champion Fernando Alonso when the Spaniard joins Aston Martin at the end of the season on a multi-year deal.
Alonso’s announcement on Monday, the first day of the sport’s August break, had come as a surprise but that was eclipsed by the drama and intrigue that followed.
Alpine’s statement strangely lacked a quote from Piastri – who finally broke his silence on social media by making clear he had other plans.
“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” he said.
“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Media reports suggested the Australian, managed by former F1 racer Mark Webber, had signed a pre-contract with McLaren – a team that officially does not have a vacancy but might be creating one.
Alpine principal Otmar Szafnauer was asked about that in a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday.