![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/f1s-blockbuster-silly-season-transfer-story-with-long-lasting-effect-on-three-teams/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/1_GettyImages-1380001774.jpg&description=A year has passed since Alpine tried and so publicly failed to promote junior driver Oscar Piastri to an F1 race seat, but the Aussie and his new McLaren employers had other ideas It will forever remain an iconic silly season story among Formula 1 fans on Twitter. "I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year." That post is still live on Oscar Piastri's account, a year on from when he first pressed send. That was about an hour and a half after Alpine had indeed released a statement 'confirming' that the Aussie had been promoted to a race seat. The warning signs were there straight away. The press release gave the impression it had been written hastily, as a response to the previous day's news that Fernando Alonso would be leaving for Aston Martin. I remember, as I wrote the breaking news story for the Mirror Sport website, thinking it was odd that there was no quote from Piastri himself included in the release. A little over 90 minutes later, it became obvious why it was missing. He found out with the rest of us that Alpine planned to promote him from his role as reserve driver. He had won the Formula 2 championship the previous year – completing a hat-trick of feeder series titles – but was forced to sit on the sidelines with no place available for him in the big time. Looking at his situation with manager Mark Webber, he realised the team wanted to keep Alonso for longer. And so the deal was struck with McLaren to join for 2023. Whether or not he truly informed Alpine of this remains disputed. The new football season is nearly upon us and with 500 live games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL and the NBA across eight dedicated channels, Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action. Get Sky Sports for £20 a month The row rumbled on fo){kind=link}
A year has passed since Alpine tried and so publicly failed to promote junior driver Oscar Piastri to an F1 race seat, but the Aussie and his new McLaren employers had other ideas
It will forever remain an iconic silly season story among Formula 1 fans on Twitter.
“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
That post is still live on Oscar Piastri’s account, a year on from when he first pressed send. That was about an hour and a half after Alpine had indeed released a statement ‘confirming’ that the Aussie had been promoted to a race seat.
The warning signs were there straight away. The press release gave the impression it had been written hastily, as a response to the previous day’s news that Fernando Alonso would be leaving for Aston Martin.