Alpine 's chief revealed he learned about Fernando Alonso's impending departure through a press release and the team had been confident they would re-sign him for the 2023 season.
The Spaniard will join Aston Martin to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel. News of his multi-year deal with the team shocked most people in the Formula 1 world, including Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer who learned about it at the same time as fans.
The Enstone-based outfit had been under the impression they would keep Alonso for at least another season. And Szafnauer revealed to Autosport that the racer himself had even told him that he had not signed anything with another team.
"It was the first confirmation I had," referring to the press release. "Obviously, when we're in the paddock, there's all sorts of rumours, and I had heard rumours that Aston were interested. Once you hear that they're interested, there's probably discussions that took place and there's some other indications that discussions took place, like walking out of the same motorhome at the same time, all that kind of stuff, which I saw.
"But I was confident that, even with the discussions, and there's nothing wrong with exploring, that we were very close. So yes, the first confirmation I had was the press release. I did ask the question [to Alonso]. And I was told 'No, no, I haven't signed anything'. So I was a bit surprised."
As for Alonso's replacement, Szafnauer added that he had "fielded a bunch of calls from other potential drivers" in the hours after the news was announced. But he was clear that reserve driver and F2 champion was their top choice and the team made the move official on Tuesday.
"He has been undergoing, under the team's guidance and its full financial support, an intensive and comprehensive training programme of private tests in the race-winning A521, the 2021 Alpine F1 car, race support and simulator sessions to prepare him for the next big step into F1," said Alpine as they announced the news.
Szafnauer drove home the point about the team's investment in Piastri in his own quote. "Oscar is a bright and rare talent. We are proud to have nurtured and supported him through the difficult pathways of the junior formulae," he said.
"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."
