Formula One drivers 2023: Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer slams Aussie Oscar Piastri’s F1 walkout

Alpine has been left reeling by Oscar Piastri’s dramatic walkout and the boss hasn’t minced his words, declaring he expected more loyalty from the Aussie young gun — and he wants compensation.

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has doubled down on his criticism of Oscar Piastri, declaring he expected “more loyalty” from the young Aussie F1 gun and would seek financial compensation for the driver fiasco.

Alpine is still reeling from losing former world champion Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin and then having reigning F2 champion Piastri reject their plans to put him in the Alpine seat for 2023 via a Twitter statement.

Piastri is widely expected to replace fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren and while Ricciardo has been mentioned as a potential driver for Alpine next year, Szafnauer said at least 14 drivers were under consideration although they remained locked on fighting for Piastri.

Aussie Oscar Piastri has made waves in the F1 world. Picture: Formula Motorsport Limited/Getty Images

Speaking to Spanish outlet El Confidencial, Szafnauer admitted that the outcome of the situation “still has to be decided”.

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“I expected more loyalty from Piastri,” he said.

“We have a contract with Piastri, which he signed in November, we have spoken to our lawyers and they have told us that this is a binding contract, so part of that contract allows us to put Oscar in one of our cars in 2023, which is the reason we issued the press release.”

The team boss said he was particularly upset at Piastri walking out on Alpine after all the team had done to nurture his development.

“If Piastri is not in the car – which I think he is going to be – because Fernando is out, I have about 14 phone calls from drivers who are interested, because the Alpine seat is the most valuable seat left,” he said.

“There should be some loyalty to the fact that we have invested literally millions and millions of euros to prepare him. So I don’t understand it either, you should ask him.

Spanish driver Fernando Alonso has also departed the Alpine team. Picture: AFP

“I’ve never seen anything like this.

“He should have it with that team that has taken care of him, that has taken him to the World Championship and, above all, that during the last year has put him in a Formula 1 car so that he would be ready, so that he would know the circuits.

“I expected more loyalty from Oscar than he is showing. I started in 1989 in Formula 1 and I’ve never seen anything like this. And it’s not about Formula 1, it’s about integrity as a human being.

“He signed a piece of paper, a document, saying he would do something different.

“For me, the way I grew up, I don’t need to sign a piece of paper and then have someone say, ‘You’re lying, because you signed this.’ For me, if you say, ‘Hey, help me, I’ll help you tomorrow,’ there’s no way I would go back on my word. No way.

“You did everything I asked you to do (from Alpine to Piastri) and now I promise you that if you do this, I will do this. I don’t need a piece of paper where it says, ‘With a clause, I can get out of here’.”

Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer isn’t happy with Piastri. Picture: Pool/Getty Images

If Alpine fail to win their case to keep Piastri, expect the team to seek compensation from McLaren.

“We have to take into account that last year we put him in a single-seater and he did 3,500 kilometres,” Szafnauer said.

“We have done seven independent tests with him and this is not cheap at all. The cost of an engine alone is 1,750,000 euros. The mechanics, the team that managed those tests, the flights and travel …

“We have spent lots and lots of money on Piastri to prepare him for the future. And, if that future is not with us, it is logical and fair that we seek compensation.

Alpine’s bold declaration for season 2023

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has made a defiant statement about the capabilities of his F1 team amid a driver contract fiasco.

In the space of seven days, Alpine lost Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin and announced Oscar Piastri as one of their 2023 drivers before the Australian rejected the news leaving their plans in tatters and a legal stoush over the latter’s contract.

According to Szafnauer, the first the team heard of Alonso’s defection to replace Sebastian Vettel was the team’s announcement of the veteran driver.

Days after this, Piastri went public with his rejection of a 2023 seat tweeting: “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.”

Fernando Alonso will drive with Aston Martin in 2023

The Australian is widely expected to replace Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren next year.It’s an embarrassing situation for the French outfit who now need to find someone to accompany Esteban Ocon on the grid.

Szafnauer however is adamant Alpine will be a contender in 2023 and insists Alonso leaving is not a big loss and that his arrival at Aston Martin will not make the Silverstone-based team a threat.

“I know both teams well,” he told Motorsport.com. “I think I know [them], because I spent 12 years at the other team, better than I know all the individuals here just yet.

“And I know since I’ve left in December, they’ve hired some more people, some of which I was a part of recruiting, including Dan Fallows, and Eric Blandin from Mercedes. So I know what they’re trying to do.

“And I know that the people that are there, and I know this team here, and both teams have great potential.

Oscar Piastri of Australia looks set to leave Alpine

“But as we sit here today, this team is performing at a much higher level. It’s hard to predict the future, but in the near future, for sure this team will continue to perform at that level, if not better.

“So I am confident that we can outdo the team that Fernando is going to, in the time period that he will be there.”

Szafnauer said nothing of the legal saga surrounding Piastri despite Alpine being confident that the Australia rookie is legally obliged to race with them in 2023.

As for Ricciardo, reports suggest up to four other teams are chasing his signature but it remains to be seen what the situation would be regarding a severance package form McLaren should the Piastri rumours prove true.

A substantial payout would be required to end Ricciardo’s contract 12 months ahead of schedule and any payout could require the 33-year-old to spend at least a year out of the sport.