Oscar Piastri revisits the Alpine contract saga that reshaped his F1 career

The 2022 Oscar Piastri contract saga remains one of Formula 1's most dramatic episodes, and the Australian driver has taken time to revisit the turbulent events that fundamentally altered the trajectory of his career. What began as a straightforward driver succession plan morphed into a legal battle that would ultimately reshape the grid, cost Alpine over half a million pounds, and cement Piastri's move to McLaren—a decision that has proven transformative for both the driver and the team.

The setup: Alpine's original plan

Entering 2022, Oscar Piastri appeared destined for a career path carefully orchestrated by Alpine. Having won back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in successive seasons, Piastri graduated to Alpine's reserve driver role, a position that included an extended testing provision to prepare him for Formula 1. However, a seat at the French outfit wasn't immediately available. With Fernando Alonso locked into a contract and Esteban Ocon secured through 2024, Alpine devised what seemed like a sensible interim solution: loan the promising Australian to Williams for the 2023 season, with a potential return to the team in 2025 on a firm multi-year deal.

It was a patience-testing arrangement for Piastri, but one that appeared locked in place—or so Alpine believed.

The shock that changed everything

The status quo collapsed when Fernando Alonso shocked the paddock by announcing his departure to Aston Martin. With their two-time world champion unexpectedly departing, Alpine pivoted quickly. The team announced Piastri as Alonso's replacement for 2023, positioning the 21-year-old as the driver who would lead their charge into the future.

There was one critical problem: Piastri had not agreed to this arrangement.

In a remarkable and now-famous social media statement, Piastri issued a public rebuke that reverberated through the sport: "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."

The statement was unprecedented in its directness—a junior driver publicly contradicting his team in real-time. But Piastri had legitimate grounds for his defiance.

The legal battle: McLaren vs. Alpine

What emerged during the contractual dispute revealed significant organizational failures at Alpine. While the team possessed an option to promote Piastri to a race seat for 2023, this arrangement had never been formally executed as a binding contract or properly lodged with the FIA's Contract Recognition Board. A critical window in November 2021—when the contract could have been finalized—had passed without Alpine completing the paperwork.

By the time Alpine made its public announcement, Piastri had already inked a deal with McLaren on July 4, 2022, to replace Daniel Ricciardo alongside Lando Norris from the 2023 season onwards. With two teams now claiming his services, the dispute escalated to the FIA's Contract Recognition Board.

The verdict and its aftermath

On September 2, 2022, the CRB delivered its ruling: only Piastri's McLaren contract was valid. The board stated unequivocally: "The only contract to be recognised by the Board is the contract between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Piastri dated 4 July 2022. Mr Piastri is entitled to drive for McLaren Racing Limited for the 2023 and 2024 seasons."

The financial consequences for Alpine were severe. The team was ordered to pay approximately £530,467 (US$609,498) in total legal costs—including £229,965 to McLaren and £120,086 directly to Piastri, with arbitrators' fees accounting for the remainder. More significantly, Alpine had lost not only Alonso but also one of motorsport's most promising talents, all due to hierarchical failures and administrative negligence.

Former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer later acknowledged the fundamental breakdown: the contract option on Piastri simply was never executed during the critical November 2021 window, leaving the team without enforceable grounds to retain the driver.

A career-defining decision

For Piastri, the decision to stand firm proved prescient. Since joining McLaren, he has evolved into one of F1's most exciting prospects, demonstrating consistent performance and potential championship material. The alternative—languishing at Williams while awaiting an uncertain return to Alpine in 2025—would have derailed a career that now appears destined for greatness.

The saga serves as a cautionary tale about administrative rigor in Formula 1. Alpine's failure to dot the i's and cross the t's on a generational talent's contract remains one of sport's most consequential bureaucratic oversights, ultimately reshaping the competitive landscape for years to come.