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Where he will soon be driving remains to be seen: Oscar Piastri
Photo:
IMAGO/Remko de Waal / IMAGO/ANP
The sensational Formula 1 contract dispute about motorsport talent Oscar Piastri is to be clarified on Monday before an arbitral tribunal of the world automobile association Fia.
This was confirmed by Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer on Saturday at the Belgian Grand Prix (Sunday, 3 p.m. / TV: Sky).
With regard to the appointment before the Contract Recognition Board (CRB), he was "very confident," emphasized Szafnauer.
The 21-year-old Australian Piastri signed a new contract with Alpine last November, which is also valid for 2023 and also contains an option for the 2024 season, explained Szafnauer.
He firmly assumes that "everything that needs to be contained in it can be found in this contract".
Alpine didn't let a deadline pass, as he "read everywhere".
This was "fictitious," said Szafnauer.
In early August, Alpine promoted reigning Formula 2 champion Piastri, who is currently acting as reserve driver, to succeed two-time world champion Fernando Alonso when the latter leaves the team for Aston Martin in early 2023.
Piastri is said to have a contract with McLaren
Piastri, however, politely declined.
He also stated that he would not be tied to Alpine beyond the end of the season, which had invested a lot of money in his training.
Szafnauer asserted that Alpine had not made Piastri's promotion public without his knowledge.
The relationship has not been destroyed either, Piastri is staying in the team's factory this weekend and working in the simulator.
Piastri is said to have already signed a contract with McLaren, which will part ways with Daniel Ricciardo early at the end of the year.
McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl did not want to answer questions about the Australian's possible successor on Saturday.
Szafnauer, in turn, was immediately confronted with the name of Ricciardo, who drove for the team in 2019 and 2020, which was then called Renault.
The American Szafnauer also commented on Mick Schumacher, whose contract with Haas is expiring.
"Recently, he took a big step forward."
The team only wants to deal with the question of who will be driving alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon for Alpine in 2023 “after Monday”.
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