Insider speaks out on why Oscar Piastri shafted Alpine to sign with McLaren

A fellow driver has revealed the truth behind the scenes as the Formula 1 circus surrounding a rising Aussie star continues to drag on.

Piastri’s future remains up in the air. (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)

Oscar Piastri’s 2023 contract decision will be announced in the coming days following a meeting of the contract recognition board (CRB) on Monday.

Piastri caused a major stir when he bluntly shunned Alpine and signed a contract with McLaren for 2023 despite having a valid contract with Alpine.

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Alpine were left shell-shocked when two-time world champion Fernando Alonso blindsided them by announcing he would be joining Aston Martin in 2023.

The move saw the French outfit announce Piastri, their current reserve driver, as filling the vacated seat.

But Piastri rejected that notion as he looked to move into a seat at McLaren alongside Lando Norri. That move saw Daniel Ricciardo’s tenure at the Woking based organisation cut short, with McLaren forced to pay out his 2023 salary.

As the ongoing drama unfolded, Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer blasted Piastri’s conduct and said the team would go to the high court if they had to.

Fingers have been pointed at every part involved in the chaos with the latest being thrust firmly in the direction of Alpine.

Juan Manuel Correa, an F3 driver, spoke about the saga and revealed some inside knowledge he obtained from Piastri’s physio.

“I don’t know how much I should say, the thing is my physio this year is actually Oscar’s full-time physio,” Correa revealed on Sky Sports’ Any Driven Monday.

“So, I know quite a bit about it. From my perspective and what is public knowledge, I think it is actually more of Alpine’s fault.

“They were playing a little bit with Oscar and Fernando. They didn’t give Oscar I think what they had promised, and any driver in his position would have done what he did. That’s what I think, from what I know.”

Correa said he believes Piastri will be lining up alongside Norris at McLaren throughout the 2023 season.

“I think the hearing was this morning, but I think he will be racing at McLaren next year,” he said.

“And I hope so for him because he deserves an F1 seat. It was already a shame that he didn’t get a seat immediately last year. So, at least now he will get his chance.”

Oscar Piastri. Source: Instagram

The FIA’s CRB met on Monday to determine which organisation held the upper hand in terms of contracts for Piastri, but a decision isn’t expected until later in the week.

Two former high-profile cases preceded over by the CRB have seen the original team declared the winner, news that spells troubles for McLaren.

Not only have they coughed up a small fortune to part with Ricciardo, if the CRB ultimately decides Alpine’s contract with Piastri is the winner … they’ll be left a driver short for 2023.

Back in 1995, David Coulthard attempted to leave Williams for McLaren while in 2005, Jension Button attempted to join Williams from BAR.

Both Brits ultimately failed in their attempts to switch teams and exit their current contracts with their teams.

Of course if the CRB do announce Piastri’s Alpine contract is the valid winner, it won’t be the end result.

Piastri could still find himself behind the wheel of the McLaren, it would just come at a greater cost as Alpine would hold all the power.

The likelihood of Piastri lining up on the grid in 2023 behind the wheel of the Alpine looks slim with the French outfit reportedly circling Pierre Gasly as their number one target to replace the outgoing Alonso.

Sky Sports Craig Slater reports AlphaTauri are willing to let Gasly go, in return for a fee from Alpine. That fee could come from compensation received in the fallout to the Piastri saga.

Ricciardo is done at McLaren. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Piastri wants out of Alpine. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Ricciardo had been linked with a return to Alpine – formerly Renault – but with rumours swirling around Gasly, it could paint a bleak picture for his 2023 chances.

His future on the grid remains up in the air after it was officially announced he would be departing the Woking based outfit at season’s end.

Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams have seats available in 2023, and it’s fair to assume each of them would be eager to sign a driver of Ricciardo’s calibre.

Haas team principle Guenther Steiner, who has become a cult hero for his antics on Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive, reportedly contacted Ricciardo before the mid-season break.

Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen is contracted with Haas on a multi-year deal, but young prodigy Mick Schumacher’s current contract expires at the end of 2022.