Camila Vega
This Tuesday, August 2nd, the Alpine Formula 1 team posted on its social media that its Australian reserve driver, Oscar Piastri, would be starting for next season as Sebastian Vettel will retire at the end of 2022 and Fernando Alonso will move to to take his place at Aston Martin.. Therefore, there is one vacancy available at Alpine.
So said the team’s statement:
Formula 1 even tweeted confirming the move:
Oscar Piastri’s Statements Denying the Alpine Team’s Claims
Oscar Piastri has taken to his social media to say he “will not be driving for Alpine next year,” hours after the team announced they would be promoting him to a full-time race seat in 2023.
Piastri, 21, mentioned, “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,” he wrote.
“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023,” he said. “I won’t be driving for Alpine next year.” Previously, the team’s statement read:
BWT Alpine F1 Team confirms 21-year-old reserve driver Oscar Piastri as Esteban Ocon’s teammate starting from 2023. In line with the commitments made by the team to the young Australian, Oscar will be promoted to race driver and step in Fernando Alonso’s seat from next year onwards.
While team principal Otmar Szafnauer added: “Oscar is a bright and rare talent. We are proud to have nurtured and supported him through the difficult pathways of the junior formulae.”
“Through our collaboration over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver who is more than capable of taking the step up to Formula 1. As our reserve driver he has been exposed to the team at the track, factory and testing where he has shown the maturity, promise and speed to ensure his promotion to our second seat alongside Esteban. Together, we believe the duo will give us the continuity we need to achieve our long-term goal of challenging for wins and championships.”
Reactions to Alpine and Oscar Piastri Statements
Of course, because of this fatal miscommunication, some memes have emerged:
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