Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has criticised Oscar Piastri for showing a lack of "integrity" following the controversy surrounding who he will drive for in 2023. The team was left shocked after Piastri refuted their driver announcement on social media, following news of the upcoming departure of Fernando Alonso to join rivals Aston Martin. It later emerged that Piastri had agreed a deal with McLaren to drive for them and replace Daniel Ricciardo, who this week confirmed that he will not continue with the team at the end of the year. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 , Szafnauer said: "He's a promising young driver, he hasn't driven in Formula 1 yet, and my wish for Oscar is he had a bit more integrity. "He signed a piece of paper as well back in November and we've done everything on our end of the bargain to prepare him for Formula 1, and his end of the bargain was to ether drive for us, or take a seat where we would place him for the next three years."
Szafnauer: I wish Oscar would remember what he signed
Next week, the Contract Recognition Board will sit to consider Alpine's case and make a ruling on whether Piastri can drive for McLaren. Piastri has been part of the Alpine Academy since 2020, but this is not a specific contract that will result in a drive with the team. "I just wish Oscar would have remembered what he signed in November and what he signed up to," Szafnauer explained. Ahead of his anticipated F1 debut, Piastri has already completed 3,500km of testing – mainly in a 2021 Alpine. "I think the right thing for us to do is go to the CRB on Monday, see how that pans out and then start looking at some negotiations in earnest," added Szafnauer.
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