A cockpit less for Schumacher - McLaren presents Ricciardo's successor

Created: 09/02/2022, 18:06

By: Marius Epp

In Formula 1, the next cockpit is taken: Rookie Oscar Piastri will drive for McLaren in the coming season.

Zandvoort - The fact that cockpits are awarded by a court of arbitration is the exception in Formula 1.

The Australian Oscar Piastri was officially introduced as a new driver at McLaren after a legal dispute with his training racing team Alpine.

He succeeds Daniel Ricciardo.

The competent arbitral tribunal (CRB) ruled on Friday that the Australian's two-year contract with the traditional English team is valid.

Piastri had not entered into any other binding commitments.

McLaren now has two of Formula 1's most talented drivers under contract.

Piastri (21) is the reigning Formula 2 champion, and Norris (22) also rushed through the junior series with great success and was already a regular driver in the premier class at the age of 19.

McLaren signs Piastri - Alpine accepts arbitrator's verdict

Alpine, the Renault works team, had trained Piastri for years, wanted to promote him to regular driver next year and insisted on a valid contract.

However, Piastri said he wasn't committed to Alpine, so the CRB had to decide.

Oscar Piastri will make his Formula 1 debut for McLaren next season.

© IMAGO/TO THE POWER OF TWO

On Friday, Alpine now accept the verdict, "we consider the matter closed and will announce our driver pairing for 2023 in due course".

The team is looking for a successor for Fernando Alonso and colleagues for Esteban Ocon.

In addition to Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Mick Schumacher, who has not yet received a contract with Haas for 2023, is also being traded.

Formula 1: Five cockpits still open - Schumacher still without a contract for 2023

Ocon is friends with Schumacher and has already aggressively courted the German.

In addition to Haas, Alpine is currently the hottest address for the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.

Haas team boss Günther Steiner keeps Schumacher shaking: "We're in no hurry," he said before the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.

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Five cockpits are still free after the Piastri announcement: Alpine, AlphaTauri, Williams, Alfa Romeo and Haas have only confirmed one driver for 2023 so far.