F1’s very silly season: Alonso, Piastri, Alpine & McLaren
3rd August 2022Formula 1’s silly season is in full swing as Alpine’s Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin has now ignited trouble at his current team with their young protégé, Oscar Piastri.
When Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel announced he was to retire from F1 last Thursday, ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, it shocked fans and the F1 community. However, this also led onto speculation of who was going to replace the four-time world champion at the Silverstone-based outfit.
It was quickly revealed, after the grand prix weekend, Alpine’s two-time world champion, Alonso, had signed on the dotted line at Aston Martin for 2023.
This, undoubtedly, lit the fire on the silly season. A term which can be used to describe the manic, chaotic actions of the teams trying their best, and quickest, efforts to fill their vacant seat(s) for the season ahead.
Following Alonso’s shock departure, the silly season has gone into overdrive and has spurred trouble for Alpine and Piastri.
Alpine quickly announced their academy driver was set to drive for them in 2023. However, on Tuesday, Piastri announced – on Twitter – he hasn’t signed a contract with Alpine, for next season.
On Twitter, Piastri said:
“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.”
While Alpine have been reported to believe they have a contract in place for next season, it is also believed the young Australian driver is currently in talks with McLaren for a race seat.
As this ordeal continues, this could lead to a lengthy and messy legal dispute between the three parties.
Across the pond, there seems to be a similar instance going on in IndyCar – which also involves McLaren.
Chip Ganassi Racing and, their driver, Alex Palou have recently been locked in a legal battle after the CGR team sued Palou at the Marion County Superior Court, in Indiana, United States.
In a tweet, on July 12, the 2021 Indycar champion stated:
“I have recently learned from the media that this afternoon, without my approval, Chip Ganassi Racing issued a press release announcing I would be driving with CGR in 2023.
“Even more surprising was that CGR’s release included a ‘quote’ which did not come from me.
“I did not approve that press release, and I did not author or approve that quote. As I have recently informed CGR, for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022.”
McLaren have recently announced the Indycar driver will join the team as part of their ‘driver roster,’ next season.
That’s it for the article: F1’s very silly season: Alonso, Piastri, Alpine, McLaren?! What did you think of the ordeal between Alpine, Piastri & McLaren? Let us know in the comments!
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
