Oscar Piastri will race for McLaren in 2023 after the Contracts Recognition Board ruled against Alpine's claim that they had a valid contract for the Australian.
Alpine had announced Piastri as their replacement for Fernando Alonso, but the F2 champion was quick to claim he had not signed a contract with the team. Instead, he had made plans to defect to midfield rivals McLaren.
And that switch has now been confirmed, after the CRB's ruling that the Woking team's contract takes precedence. And within minutes of the ruling, McLaren announced they had signed Piastri on a multi-year deal.
"The entire team is delighted to welcome Oscar to McLaren for the 2023 F1 season," said team principal Andreas Seidl.
"He has an impressive racing career to date, and we are sure that together with Lando [Norris], he will be able to help us move another step forward towards our ambitions.
"We still have an important job to do this season which the team remains focused on, before we will then ensure Oscar is integrated into the team as quickly as possible and ready for the challenges ahead. We look forward to preparing for an exciting 2023 season together."
Piastri added: "I'm extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I'm very grateful for the opportunity that's been offered to me.
"The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I'm looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid. I'm focused on preparing for my F1 debut in 2023 and starting my F1 career in papaya."
Meanwhile, Alpine also released a statement conceding defeat, and will reveal their new driver to partner Esteban Ocon next year "in due course". Their statement read: "BWT Alpine F1 Team thanks the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) for convening on Monday and we acknowledge the decision they have made.
"We consider the matter closed on our side and will announce our full 2023 driver line-up in due course. Our immediate focus is the Dutch Grand Prix and securing points in our fight for fourth in the constructors' championship."
What next for Alpine?
After conceding defeat in their bid to keep hold of Piastri, the Enstone team needs a new driver. There are several candidates, including their former driver Daniel Ricciardo, though it seems Pierre Gasly is at the top of the list.
Alpine are said to have already "agreed terms" with AlphaTauri on a compensation package, which would see Red Bull sanction his departure a year earlier than planned. A move for Gasly would most likely secure the future of his current team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, with AlphaTauri unlikely to want to search for two new drivers for next year.
As for Alpine, the move makes sense from a marketing perspective, having two French drivers racing for a French team. But more than that, they would gain a capable racer who is chomping at the bit for a new challenge, and one which he hopes will allow him to race closer to the front of the grid.
