[M5Rick]

In a nutshell Piastri will join McLaren after all, the FIA's contract validation board ruling that everything is in order.
That leaves outgoing Ricciardo to ponder whether he will go back to Alpine which was Renault when he was there in '19 and '20'
https://racingnews365.com/revealed-p...claren-in-2023

[MontyB1]

So no further news out yet. But its looking like McLaren HAVE signed Piastri but they have few to no get out clauses with Danny R. So current theory is that McLaren are either trying to do a deal with Alpine to see if they can take him and reduce the burden on McLaren or McLaren will buy him out of his contract.

The issue there is that he is contracted for next season so might have to worst case pay him circa $15-20m to say sorry you aren't driving with us on top of what they are paying for Piastri.

So a bit of a mistake on Zac B's side that all the options to exit are on the drivers side not the teams. Worst case is Danny says no I want to drive and the team say no we offer you $5m to leave and Danny says nope and it all goes to court to decide what happens next. The fact there is no quick announcement from any driver or team suggests that this is going to take a while to work through and lawyers are getting involved to help negotiate the route out I suspect.

[Artemis]

[Artemis]

"Opinion: How Alpine lost Piastri"
https://racingnews365.com/opinion-ho...e-lost-piastri

"the information learned by RacingNews365.com concerning Piastri's move to McLaren was derived not from a single source, but three different parties - on two continents, in three countries – all with knowledge of the information. Crucially, all provided essentially the same details"

[MontyB1]

It seems the information is coming out as I wrote above... McLaren to let Danny R go and Piastri comes in. What it costs them to do this will be the question, if he finds another seat he won't honour the contract but it all depends how it was written.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/m...2023/10349014/

[m3fuz]

What a mess! This is the silliest of silly seasons in recent memory, and it’s only the 5th!!

[Artemis]

"Szafnauer criticises Piastri: I expected more loyalty from him"
https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-...alty-from-him/
"Otmar Szafnauer has stated that he "expected more loyalty" from Oscar Piastri after the driver denied agreeing to race for Alpine next season.
(...)
Szafnauer explains Alpine statement
Speaking to Spanish outlet El Confidencial, Szafnauer admitted that the outcome of the situation "still has to be decided".
"We have a contract with Piastri, which he signed in November, we have spoken to our lawyers and they have told us that this is a binding contract, so part of that contract allows us to put Oscar in one of our cars in 2023, which is the reason we issued the press release," Szafnauer claimed.
"There is also an option for 2024 and the possibility for us to 'loan' the driver to another team. We wanted Fernando with us for one more year and then a 'loan' of Oscar for 2023.
"I have always said in all my press conferences that Piastri would be in Formula 1 in 2023 and it is because I knew he could be in our car or in another car, on loan, if Fernando had stayed.
"But Alonso, for whatever reason – and I think I know the reasons, although you should ask him – he goes to Aston Martin. So, we started to finalise the agreement with Piastri, and instead of giving him away, we decided to put him in our car. Hence, the statement.""

El Confidencial interview: https://www.elconfidencial.com/depor...quipo_3472446/

[MontyB1]

Seems that was valid before the date in his contact that they needed to confirm his position though. Several places seem to confirm the contract recognition board are happy that McLaren has made a valid move for him.

The fact that they have an issue now with 3x drivers under contract is another matter entirely. Will Danny R go back to Alpine, Mmmm maybe as its different management and team principle so it 'could' work him returning there. Are there other options, maybe but other than Williams and would he really go there and not Alpine I'm not so sure.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

Seems that was valid before the date in his contact that they needed to confirm his position though. Several places seem to confirm the contract recognition board are happy that McLaren has made a valid move for him.

The fact that they have an issue now with 3x drivers under contract is another matter entirely. Will Danny R go back to Alpine, Mmmm maybe as its different management and team principle so it 'could' work him returning there. Are there other options, maybe but other than Williams and would he really go there and not Alpine I'm not so sure.

Never waste a good crisis: just imagine for a moment that Alpine could convince Vettel to roll back his decision to retire at the end of this season + join them for 2023. He's 35. Michael Schumacher also retired a first time when he was 35 (last season: 2006 - Ferrari), but made a surprise comeback when he was 41 (2010-2011-2012 - Mercedes), although he could never make his old days mark again. His vacated Mercedes AMG seat was offered to Lewis Hamilton for the 2013 season. The rest is history.

[MontyB1]

Indeed, I suspect Vettel doesn't want to come back and just move on. He looks like he has had enough and wants to do other things in life.

[M5Rick]

If I were an F1 manager I wouldn't trust Piastri or his manager with a barge pole, talk of kicking sand into your mentors face after Alpine spent a fortune training and weening him into F1.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

If I were an F1 manager I wouldn't trust Piastri or his manager with a barge pole, talk of kicking sand into your mentors face after Alpine spent a fortune training and weening him into F1.

See the video in comment #1 - Alpine invested lots of money and risks to see a competitor (McLaren) to pick the fruits:

Originally Posted by Artemis

Dedicated training in 2022 by Alpine (English from 01:45 onwards):

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

See the video in comment #1 - Alpine invested lots of money and risks to see a competitor (McLaren) to pick the fruits:

''it's very rare to see a testing program like this nowadays'' (the one he got from Alpine) aussie said it all and left Shafnauer in the lurch.

[M5Rick]

It's coming out in reports that Piastri has two valid contracts with Alpine and McLaren and the youngster looks set to possibly be taken to court, it may not be up to him which team he drives for in '23 but whatever the Fia contract validation people said I would have thought what contract he signed first would be binding depending on the wording.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

It's coming out in reports that Piastri has two valid contracts with Alpine and McLaren and the youngster looks set to possibly be taken to court, it may not be up to him which team he drives for in '23 but whatever the Fia contract validation people said I would have thought what contract he signed first would be binding depending on the wording.

"Chaos complete: 'FIA approved both contracts of Piastri'":
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/12406...f-piastri.html

"McLaren fired warning from Alpine if they opt to replace Ricciardo with Oscar Piastri":
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...iastri-f1-news

"Daniel Ricciardo 'demands £12m to quit McLaren' as negotiations start over ending contract":
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...cLaren-f1-news

"FIA break silence on Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri mess as statement released":
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...lpine-mclaren/

[MontyB1]

All starting to become official now...

Danny R gone from McLaren at the end of the season.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...2023/10357165/

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

All starting to become official now...
Danny R gone from McLaren at the end of the season.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...2023/10357165/

Looks like McLaren has deep pockets to reel in Piastri.

[Artemis]

July 13, 2022: Ricciardo's firm statement that he is "committed" to McLaren till the end of the 2023 season and "not walking away from the sport":
https://mobile.twitter.com/danielric...59313151655939

Aug 24, 2022: Ricciardo's video statement that he prematurely leaves McLaren at the end of this season:
https://mobile.twitter.com/danielric...44128629116928

Technically, his July 13 statement is still accurate: he was committed + planning to stay in F1. But the commitment has been renegotiated in the meantime (tenure abridged, undoubtedly with a bag of money and privileges as quid pro quo) and he wants to stay in F1. Ricciardo had to move over for Piastri.

See also: "Analysis: Why McLaren and Ricciardo divorced – and what they will do next":
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...PImhmRHJb.html

Now imagine for a moment that Alpine would obtain a 'cease-and-desist order' prohibiting Piastri to drive for other F1 teams than Alpine in 2023 (further to contractual commitments). But maybe Alpine changes its mind: they can reel in Ricciardo for the 2023 season: The Return of The Prodigal Son.

[MontyB1]

There was a view a while ago that Pisatri / McLaren had already spoke to the contracts review board to get an early view of if he was out of contract and they get the answer of its all fine.

I guess we will see if that is the case or not.

[MontyB1]

Well it seems the my lawyer was right and yours was wrong meeting is set for next week.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/p...week/10357830/

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

Well it seems the my lawyer was right and yours was wrong meeting is set for next week.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/p...week/10357830/

If Alpine gets the upper hand in the dispute, it could offer Ricciardo the Alonso seat and 'ground' Piastri for the whole 2023 season as Alpine reserve driver in charge of simulator work. Turning the table: Alpine hurting McLaren and reminding Piastri of their investment in him.

Check the video in the first post of this thread demonstrating how Alpine worked out an expensive tailor made programme for Piastri this year. However, Piastri also explained in the video that he preferred to race over test driving (racing only himself). Work atmosphere risks to be sub-zero if Piastri is ordered to remain at Alpine's mercy, as the Alpine team will likely feel betrayed by his attempt to leave Alpine with empty hands for all time, experience, devices, staff and money spent on him.

Kinda makes you wonder how important Ocon still is for Alpine. Ocon is signed till the end of 2024 season and has the major benefit of the French nationality. But Ricciardo + Piastri could make an interesting duo.

[M5Rick]

Christian Horner says he's completely confused by the 'pastry' saga and so am I.
I think Piastri is shooting well above his weight treating Alpine like garbage and should not be taken on by anyone.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/90...l-alpine-mess/