Former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has reiterated his criticism of Oscar Piastri regarding the contract mistake that allowed him to join McLaren for the 2023 season. Piastri, previously an Alpine junior driver, was expected to fill the vacancy left by Fernando Alonso, who announced his move to Aston Martin.
However, shortly after Alpine’s announcement of Piastri’s promotion, he sent a now-famous tweet denying he would be driving for Alpine, igniting a contractual dispute that escalated to the Contract Recognition Board. Szafnauer expressed that Piastri should have acted with greater integrity and implied that McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown should feel embarrassed about the situation.
Szafnauer has remained unapologetic about his comments, defending his view that Piastri took advantage of Alpine’s resources while simultaneously securing a future with McLaren. He mentioned Alpine’s investment in Piastri, emphasising that the team had provided substantial support for his development as a driver. Szafnauer suggested it would have been more honourable for Piastri to withdraw from Alpine’s testing program if he intended to leave.
The issue stemmed from a crucial deadline missed in November 2021, which left Piastri a free agent; Szafnauer claimed he was unaware of this oversight until the CRB proceedings. Compounding this significant blunder, Piastri joined a list of prominent drivers who departed from Alpine, including Daniel Ricciardo and Alonso.
Despite the turmoil caused by the incident, Piastri’s performance at McLaren has been exceptional, placing him at the top of the 2025 drivers’ standings. Szafnauer, acknowledging his professional rivalry with Piastri’s manager Mark Webber, clarified that he held no personal animosity towards them. He recognised the pursuit of a Formula 1 seat as a critical ambition that Piastri leveraged skillfully, reiterating the rarity and competitive nature of opportunities in F1.
Ultimately, Szafnauer expressed understanding of Piastri’s actions, as becoming a Formula 1 driver is a culmination of years of effort and determination, with few spots available for aspiring racers.