McLaren boss Zak Brown has leapt to the defence of new driver Oscar Piastri. In one of the biggest talking points throughout the F1 season, the Australian signed for the Woking-based outfit when it appeared he was going to fill a seat at Alpine left by Fernando Alonso.
Piastri snubbing Alpine’s promotion, after they had announced he would be their new driver next season, further exacerbated the situation. The case went to F1’s Contract Recognition Board to determine which team had the valid contract with Piastri. They ruled in the favour of McLaren with the Board declaring Alpine only ever had a term sheet with the driver.
Since then, an aggrieved Otmar Szafnauer, Alpine's team boss, questioned the integrity of the youngster. This angered Brown who slammed what he felt was unfair criticism of his new driver. “I’ve been very impressed with how he conducted himself over the summer,” said Brown of Piastri, as per the BBC.
