Alpine, which is owned by Renault, expressed confidence in their case ahead of a meeting of Formula One’s Contract Recognition Board on Monday to decide which team Australian Oscar Piastri will race for next season.
Alpine’s contract with their 21-year-old reserve was solid, according to team boss Otmar Szafnauer, who spoke to reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday.
However, the youngster has ruled out racing for Alpine and is believed to have signed a deal with rivals McLaren instead.
McLaren has not commented, but it has created a vacancy by terminating the contract of Australian Daniel Ricciardo for 2023.
“On Monday, we’ll be at the CRB. I’m not sure when they’ll rule, but it’ll be soon “Szafnauer stated.
“We’ll have the CRB decide which contract Oscar signed takes precedence, and once that decision is made, we’ll see where we go.”
“I’ve heard both sides of the argument, and we’re confident Oscar signed with us in November, and there are certain things that need to be in the contract, and I’m confident they are.”
Szafnauer stated that there was no end-of-July deadline and that Alpine’s contract was for 2023 with a 2024 option.
When asked if Alpine could force Piastri to race for them, Szafnauer said that would have to wait until Monday or Tuesday.
The row erupted after Alpine’s double world champion Fernando Alonso announced his departure for Aston Martin at the end of the year.
Alpine was willing to give the 41-year-old Spaniard a one-year contract extension while keeping Piastri at Williams, but Alonso wanted a longer deal and, as a free agent, jumped at the Aston opportunity.
Alpine then named Piastri as Alonso’s replacement, only for the Australian, last year’s Formula Two champion, to decline the position.
Szafnauer dodged the question of whether Alpine might re-sign Ricciardo, who joined McLaren from Renault at the end of 2020.
“Can I tell you after Monday because I might not have to think about it?” he asked, adding that Piastri remained an active member of the team.
“He’s back in Enstone, driving our simulator and assisting with car setup,” he explained. “We continue to prepare Oscar in the same way we have in the past.”
“Our relationship has not faltered, and we will continue.”
