Oscar Piastri reveals the ‘breakdown of trust’ in his switch from Alpine to McLaren F1

Oscar Piastri has revealed how he decided to race for McLaren in 2023 despite being guided and funded by Renault-Alpine while climbing the perilous motorsport ladder to Formula One.

The 21-year-old Australian says months of uncertainty around the French team's plans for his career had led him to sign for McLaren even before Fernando Alonso decided to move to Aston Martin – in a switch that opened a race seat for next year at Alpine.

Piastri had already had a year on the sidelines and was worried the race place he had been promised for 2023 could have been at the tail-end Williams team.

“The lack of clarity around my future, and ultimately a breakdown in trust, I felt the very attractive offer of McLaren and the positive dealings with them thus far were all reasons why I felt McLaren was where I was best off for the future. Their enthusiasm to have me was very attractive,” Piastri told the Formula1.com website.

“To be completely honest, there was a lack of clarity around my future at the team at Alpine.

“They (Alpine) publicly stated they wished to continue with Fernando for at least one or two more years. I respect that. But after spending the year out, my hopes were firmly set on an Alpine seat and the lack of clarity and, similarly to Fernando, a bit of a strange feeling in negotiations, it didn’t feel like it was the right decision for me [to stay around].”

Piastri revealed he and his management team — Mark and Ann Webber, the powerhouse partnership who drove Webber to nine Formula One Grand Prix victories and third place in the world championship three times — had told Alpine he would not be staying, so he was surprised when the team announced in a press release that he would replace Alonso.

“My decision was made well in advance [of Alonso’s departure], which made Alpine’s announcement probably even more confusing and upsetting because we had told the team that I wasn’t going to continue,” he said.

“It was quite upsetting as the announcement was false and it also denied me the opportunity to properly say goodbye to everyone at (Alpine).”

Piastri revealed he had been told about the Alpine release by team principal Otmar Szafnauer while working in the team's simulator at its British race base at Enstone.

“That was a bizarre and frankly upsetting episode. It was done publicly in front of some members of the team who were oblivious to the situation and I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of them.

“Once we were in private, I told Otmar what our position was and what he had been told multiple times before that. It was very surprising to me to make that announcement.”

Piastri defended the decision to respond with his position — he would not be racing for Alpine and the release was wrong — on social media, even though it eventually led to a legal showdown at the Contracts Recognition Board that rules on disputes in Formula One.

“It was the biggest moment of my career and probably my life up to now,” he said.

“To have that falsely announced was something my management and I felt we had to correct and there was also potential legal implications if we didn’t deny the announcement. It was not intended to be pointed or in any way anything more than factual.”

Piastri is still the official test and reserve driver at Alpine until the end of the year but is now looking ahead to his future with McLaren.

“The CRB ruling has confirmed I didn’t have a contract for the 2023 season [with Alpine],” he said.

“I was free to choose my destiny – and I felt McLaren was a great opportunity. They were very straightforward and very keen and enthusiastic to have me.

“McLaren have a competitive car. Obviously it’s a tight battle between Alpine and McLaren right now, but they are a competitive team with a hell of a lot of winning history, and I think the environment is a great fit for me.

“I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I feel McLaren is the right place for me to start life in F1. I’m super excited to get started.”