F1 contracts 2023: Oscar Pistri trolled by Alex Albon over Alpine-McLaren saga

Oscar Piastri certainly let the world know how he felt when he tweeted that he would not be driving for Alpine in 2023 and now his F1 rivals are mocking him.

Piastri went public with his response to Alpine

Oscar Piastri certainly let the world know how he felt when he tweeted that he would not be driving for Alpine in 2023 and now his F1 rivals are mocking him.

Piastri essentially walked out on the French team after tweeting “I will not be driving for Alpine” despite a statement to the contrary coming from the side’s official accounts just hours before.

It was a low point in a chaotic 24 hours for Alpine who had just admitted to having no idea veteran driver Fernando Alonso was quitting the side to join Aston Martin.

To make matter worse it all played out on social media with the world watching.

Alpine made the first move tweeting: “2023 driver line-up confirmed: Esteban Ocon & Oscar Piastri.

“After four years as part of the Renault and Alpine family, Reserve Driver Oscar Piastri is promoted to a race seat alongside Esteban Ocon starting from 2023.”

The strangest thing about the announcement was it came with no more detail, no quotes from either driver or a team boss.

Speculation mounted about the haphazard nature of the announcement before Piastri dropped a bombshell.

I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is right and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year.

😂 let’s gooo @williamsracing 💪 pic.twitter.com/NNljcXOieE

— Alex Albon (@alex_albon) August 3, 2022

McLaren's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo and Williams' Thai driver Alexander Albon

“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 wrote.

“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”

A legal stoush has ensued with Alpine adamant they are protected by a contract clause which states that Piastri has an obligation to the French outfit if a seat is available.

“We believe we are legally correct in our statement but don’t have anything further to say,”

was the response from Alpine after Piastri’s tweet.

Whatever is to come at Alpine, it seems Piastri’s tweet inspired Alex Albon’s contract announcement after Williams locked him in on a multi-year deal.

“I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” Albon tweeted.

“This is right and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year.”

The post went viral and even Piastri managed to see the funny side replying with a gif saying”well played sir, that was good.”

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. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 2, 2022

“It’s really exciting to be staying and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve as a team in the remainder of this season and next year,” Albon added.

“The team is pushing hard to progress and I am really motivated to continue this journey & further develop our learnings together”

As for what comes next, it is anyone’s guess with Alpine and Piastri’s manager Mark Webber going to ground.

Should rumours of a Piastri deal at McLaren prove true it would mean his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo is without a deal for 2023.

Until now, only Paul di Resta has spoken about what could come next.

“I only see a door opening at Williams and McLaren (for Piastri),” he told Sky F1.

“Based on Daniel’s performance - people have been harsh on Daniel and rightly so in a sense because he’s been struggling for performance against Lando but he is coming back. Daniel is obviously a fellow Australian and if he races Daniel there will obviously be a lot of hype around that but moving forward everybody is an enemy.”

Originally published as F1 contracts 2023: Oscar Pistri trolled by Alex Albon over Alpine-McLaren saga