 He will not appear in FP1 at the Yas Marina Circuit, as McLaren have already declared that IndyCar racer Pato O'Ward will be taking to the track for them in that session. Alex Palou previously appeared for them at the US GP. "There was a negotiation on an agreement as to how to part ways," Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport of Piastri's situation. "We're drawing a line under it. Once this season en){kind=link}
McLaren confirmed in the summer that they had signed Piastri to replace Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 season, after winning their legal battle with rivals Alpine
Alpine have allowed Oscar Piastri to join his new employers McLaren earlier than planned, the bosses of both teams have confirmed.
The two teams are each others’ main rivals in Formula 1 these days, as they tussle for fourth place in the constructors’ championship. But that battle is nothing compared to the one they fought earlier this year over the future of the 2021 F2 champion.
Piastri was on the books at Alpine, but only as a reserve as the Enstone team looked to extend the contract of Fernando Alonso. It was only when the Spaniard decided to leave for Aston Martin that they tried to promote the Aussie to his first F1 race seat.
But Piastri, who had grown frustrated by the prospect of spending more time as an understudy, had been looking elsewhere. And, long before Alpine tried to promote him, he had already signed a deal with McLaren to join them from 2023.