Oscar Piastri considered the contract dispute from mid-2022, when he secured a Formula 1 agreement with McLaren while still associated with Alpine’s junior program.
Piastri became a member of what was then known as the Renault Sport Academy for the 2020 season, having just secured the Formula Renault Eurocup championship.
The Australian racer subsequently claimed the F3 and F2 titles in his debut seasons, though he was required to sit out 2022 as Alpine’s reserve driver.
“It was undeniably a challenging period,” Piastri remarked in F1’s recently launched Off The Grid video, captured in November in Monaco, his current residence. “As a competitive driver, the inherent desire is always to compete.”
“Not being on track that year was certainly difficult. However, it did provide an opportunity to observe certain aspects more clearly from an external perspective: participating in a race weekend, comprehending the demands of media engagements, anticipating sponsor obligations, and grasping the overall flow of the season. I gained some insights from that, despite it being a hard phase.”
“I always found satisfaction in knowing I was doing my utmost, and I consistently felt assured that an opportunity would materialize.”
Indeed, opportunities—multiple ones—arose. The team based in Enstone encountered a dilemma, possessing three skilled drivers for only two positions, with Piastri being a clear candidate alongside established drivers Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri, Alpine
Photo by: Alpine
Alpine contemplated temporarily assigning Piastri to Williams until news broke of Alonso’s impending transfer to Aston Martin. Subsequently, the team declared its protégé’s elevation to a racing position, a claim the young driver firmly rebuffed.
“I comprehend that, without my consent, Alpine F1 issued a press statement late this afternoon announcing my participation with them next year,” he stated. “This information is incorrect, and I have not finalized an agreement with Alpine for 2023. I will not be racing for Alpine in the upcoming season.”
It was revealed that Piastri had previously secured a deal with McLaren, and the Contract Recognition Board of the FIA subsequently decided in favor of the Woking-based squad.
“I had an inkling it would generate significant attention,” he acknowledged with a smile. “There were specific justifications for that action; it wasn’t merely me making an effort to publicly declare that I wouldn’t be competing.”
“Honestly, I can now reflect on it with a degree of amusement. Unquestionably, it wasn’t humorous at the moment it was happening.”
“The matter clearly escalated to the CRB. The outcome favored me, yet that marked another considerably stressful period.”
Consequently, Piastri commenced his F1 career with McLaren, rather than Alpine, in 2023. “That constituted an extraordinary occasion. Then, it also dawns on you that all your prior achievements almost cease to hold significance at that point,” he remarked.
Despite not securing the 2025 drivers’ championship, Piastri already possesses an impressive career tally of six pole positions and 26 podium finishes, encompassing nine wins, across 70 Grand Prix races – and he admits he is “still acquiring knowledge.”
