Szafnauer: 'I wish Piastri had a bit more integrity'

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has once again called out Oscar Piastri, saying the Enstone squad's junior driver has displayed a regretful lack of integrity in his dealings with the team.

In the wake of Aston Martin's surprise announcement that Fernando Alonso would replace Sebastian Vettel next season, Alpine promoted Piastri to a race seat for 2023.

But the 21-year-old snubbed the decision, arguing that not only had he not signed a contract with Alpine covering the 2023, but he would also absolutely not be driving for the team next year.

Spurred on by his manager Mark Webber, Piastri has allegedly signed a contract to race with McLaren in 2023. But Alpine claims it holds a valid contract with its reserve driver for 2023, an assertion that will be assessed next week by the FIA's Contract Recognition Board.

In the interim, Alpine are clearly unhappy with the attitude of a driver – Piastri – in whom they have heavily invested only to see him turn his back on his benefactors.

"My wish for Oscar was he had a bit more integrity," Szafnauer told Sky Sports F1 on Friday.

"He signed a bit of paper as well back in November and we've done everything on our end of the bargain to prepare him for Formula One and his end of the bargain was to either drive for us or take a seat where we would place him for the next three years.

"I just wish Oscar would have remembered what he signed in November, what he signed up to."

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The FIA's Contract Recognition Board will likely have the final say on the matter, although Alpine isn't dismissing taking Piastri to court to recover part of its wasted investment.

Regardless of the outcome, any future collaboration between Alpine and Piastri now seems impossible, which begs the question: who will race alongside Esteban Ocon next season at the French team?

Could ousted McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo, who spent two years at Renault before joining the Woking-based outfit, return to Enstone?

"The team speak very highly of Daniel and his time here," said Szafnauer when queried on a potential renewed tie-up between the 33-year-old Aussie and Alpine.

"We haven't had those strategic discussions yet but everybody that I ask, the engineering team, they really speak highly of his skill as a driver and a team motivator."

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