Daniel Ricciardo could end up back at Alpine for 2023
(Picture: Getty Images)Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer does not foresee any issue in bringing Daniel Ricciardo back to the team, should the Australian ultimately be the one to replace Fernando Alonso.
Following the two-time world champion’s surprise exit to Aston Martin, the Enstone team announced Oscar Piastri as their new driver for 2023 in a promotion from his role on reserve driver.
Howevever, the 21-year-old tweeted that he had no knowledge of the move - and that he had no intention of fulfilling the role next season.
That has sparked a rumoured legal battle with McLaren reportedly having agreed to race Piastri while looking to ditch Ricciardo, who has underperformed since swapping Alpine, then racing as Renault, for the British marque.
For Szafnauer, Ricciardo returning to his old factory would be no issue for either party given previous cases in Formula One.
“I mean, if you look at Fernando, for example, he comes and goes, and I think that happens to other drivers too,” he told reporters before Piastri made his public response.
“And I don't think that's an issue at all. I think what we need to focus on are the plans that we have for the next races.
“We've got to make sure that we complement that plan with the best driver that we can, and there are some options out there for us. And we put the best driver in next to Esteban [Ocon], so that we can move forward towards what we've been planning.”
When asked if Piastri potentially wanting to go to McLaren instead of Alpine would cause damage to their relationship, Szafnauer insisted he was experienced enough to overcome such obstacles, adding: “Hopefully we don't have to go down that route, anyway.”
