Alpine is set to make an imminent call on whether McLaren-led Oscar Piastri stays on board for the rest of this year.
On the eve of the Dutch Grand Prix, it was announced that Alpine had lost its bid to keep Piastri on its books next year after the Contract Recognition Board ruled in favor of McLaren.
Piastri will make his Formula 1 debut in 2023 alongside Lando Norris as part of a two-year deal.
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With the young Australian set to join the Woking outfit, Alpine are weighing up whether to bother keeping Piastri for the rest of 2022.
As it stands, the highly sought-after 21-year-old remains a reserve and test driver for the Enstone squad. However, it may not be for much longer.
Oscar Piastri could soon leave Alpine. (Supplied)
“He’s with us this weekend, doing simulator work, and that will be decided,” Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer said of Piastri’s place in the team.
“It’s going to continue this weekend. There’s only a couple of days left, today and tomorrow, and then we’ll meet with them on Monday and decide how to move forward.”
In an interview with Formula 1’s official website, Piastri said he was happy to carry out his duties with Alpine until the end of his contract.
If Piastri were to leave his position at Alpine, this could open the door to an early arrival at McLaren.
Oscar Piastri driving the Alpine A521 Renault during Formula 1 testing at the Yas Marina Circuit. (Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Piastri is also McLaren’s reserve driver. Earlier this year it was put on hold after Lando Norris fell ill before the Monaco Grand Prix.
This resource sharing agreement has remained intact ever since.
Now, for McLaren, it’s about finding out what is possible pending the outcome of Monday’s meeting.
“At the end of the day, that’s up to Andreas [Siedl, McLaren team principal] to work out what our plans are for this year,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports F1 when asked if Piastri could make a free practice outing.
“He’s under contract with Alpine for ’22, so that’s something the two of them will have to discuss, but we haven’t finalized any plans on our end. We have our TPC testing (testing a previous car) program, so Andreas will make those decisions in his own time.”
Oscar Piastri is currently contracted to Alpine for the rest of 2022. (Getty)
Ironically, that would put Piastri in either Norris’ or Daniel Ricciardo’s car, which the young gun will replace next year.
Asked hypothetically what he would do, Brown said Alpine should not hold Piastri back from an early finish at McLaren.
“That’s my personal opinion, I think you have to let the drivers go on and drive the race cars,” Brown said.
“I think it’s not just drivers, it’s employees. People want to be with the team and vice versa to have a productive environment.
“If it was me, and I’m a bit biased, I’d say ‘why don’t you go and have fun with your new team’, but that’s his decision.”
The Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 11 p.m.
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