Alpine says Piastri had 'thankful' reaction to 2023 race seat

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer says Oscar Piastri "smiled and was thankful" when he was told about his promotion to a race seat with the French outfit for 2023.

In the wake of the shock news of Fernando Alonso's departure from Alpine, the Enstone squad regrouped and opted to entrust the Spaniard's vacated seat to Piastri.

But Alpine's statement on the Tuesday after the Hungarian Grand Prix, which oddly did not include any quotes from Piastri, was followed several hours later by a rebuke from the Aussie who claimed that Alpine's release had been put out without his consent, that he was not contracted to the team for 2023 and that he would not be racing for the latter next season.

On Saturday in Spa, Szafnauer revealed that he had informed Piastri in person at Enstone, on the Monday after the Hungarian Grand Prix, of his promotion.

"I told Oscar before the announcement was made," Szafnauer said.

"He happened to be in the simulator, so I went and found him, and he smiled and was thankful. We made the release very quickly."

Szafnauer explained that the release, despite being published 24 hours after he had informed Piastri of his promotion, did not include quotes from the latter because Alpine had "reacted quickly and didn’t want to go back and forth with his management".

Read also:

• Horner: Piastri contract hassle 'should never have happened'

Szafnauer said that Alpine was informed of Piastri's stance through social media.

Looking ahead at next week's meeting with the FIA's Contract Recognition Board, which will have the last word on the validity, or not, of Alpine's agreement with Piastri, Szafnauer expressed his confidence that the contract signed by Piastri with Alpine last November will prevail.

"I’ve seen both sides of the argument and we’re confident that Oscar signed with us in November," said the American.

"There are certain things that need to be in the contract and I’m confident they’re in there."

Szafnauer also rubbished speculation that Alpine had missed a July 31 deadline to exercise its option on Piastri.

"There was no deadline in Piastri’s contract. It is a contract until the end of 2023 with an option for 2024," he explained. "He signed a contract with us in November.

"I’ll just say those things, there’s a lot more in it. As I said, I don’t really like to talk about the specifics."

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