Oscar Piastri signed his McLaren contract the day after the British Grand Prix in early July, an FIA document has revealed.
It was announced on Friday that McLaren had officially signed him for the 2023 season, following a legal battle. Alpine felt they had a valid contract for the F1 champion to replace Fernando Alonso but the Contracts Recognition Board (CRB) disagreed.
Arguments were presented at a hearing on Monday, after which the CRB's contract lawyers mulled over the evidence before returning their verdict on Friday. And their decision was announced through an official FIA document, which was also made public on the governing body's website.
"A tribunal appointed by the Contract Recognition Board held a meeting on August 29, 2022, when counsel for Alpine Racing Limited, McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Oscar Piastri were heard," the statement read.
"The tribunal has issued a unanimous decision that the only contract to be recognised by the board is the contract between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Piastri dated July 4, 2022. Mr Piastri is entitled to drive for McLaren Racing Limited for the 2023 and 2024 seasons."
The date the contract was signed was the day after the British Grand Prix, and nine days before Daniel Ricciardo released a social media statement vowing to fight for his McLaren future. It was also before Fernando Alonso announced he would join Aston Martin, meaning Alpine were under the impression the Spaniard would continue to drive for them.
So when Alonso left at the start of August and Alpine responded by promoting Piastri, they had no idea that the Aussie had already signed a deal with their rivals McLaren. That deal was brokered by his manager Mark Webber, who is good friends with the Woking team's chief Andreas Seidl.
Meanwhile, reacting to the news, Sky Sports' Ted Kravitz revealed that Alpine had been left "shell-shocked" by the announcement. "The race team is going ahead as usual, but I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the rest of the team are a little bit shell-shocked by this decision," he said in the pit lane
"Otmar Szafnauer, team principal, was absolutely sure there were solid contracts that they had for a long time with Oscar Piastri. They're a little bit shell-shocked, but it might not such a bad problem to have, because it seems they are going to get Pierre Gasly, who will be traded from AlphaTauri to join the Alpine team, and they might consider him to be a better long-term prospect."
