Piastri will race for McLaren next year after a contract saga over the summer saw Alpine claim they had a deal in place for him to race in 2023, only for the Contract Recognition Board to rule. in favor of McLaren.
After losing the case, Alpine said he would reconsider his existing relationship with Piastri, which could have opened the door for him to join McLaren sooner.
But Piastri has since continued to work with Alpine in the simulator during race weekends, leaving McLaren to expect him to join the Aussie only after the season is over.
Asked if signing Gasly from Alpine for 2023 would help McLaren try to secure an early release for Piastri, team principal Andreas Seidl said: “I don’t think that really changes. much.
“They are still considering continuing the program, I understand, with Oscar until the end of the season.
“Therefore, there is not really any news.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL36
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Had McLaren been able to draft Piastri before the end of the season, he would have been eligible to fulfill his young driver requirement for both FP1 sessions this year.
But the team has announced that those sessions will be taken by 2021 IndyCar champion Alex Palou and Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward in Austin and Abu Dhabi respectively.
Alpine has yet to confirm its plans for young FP1 drivers, but must fulfill the requirement in the last four races.
Alpine had planned to give the sessions to Piastri from the French Grand Prix in mid-July, but team boss Otmar Szafnauer told Suzuka he was “not sure” if the Australian would participate in one of the last four events.
An alternative option for Alpine would be Formula 2 driver Jack Doohan, whose impressive rookie campaign in the category put him in contention for the seat that was eventually taken by Gasly.
Szafnauer said Alpine would “start thinking more seriously” about its young driver plans for 2023 now that its racing line-up was complete, but indicated Doohan’s priority would be to challenge for the F2 title next season. .
“Jack’s immediate priority must be to win the F2 championship next year,” Szafnauer said.
“We will support him through this process and help him along the way and also give him time in a car to prepare him for Formula 1.
“But yeah, we’re going to start looking at that, now that we’ve taken that step. [confirming Gasly].”
Piastri will race for McLaren next year after a contract saga over the summer saw Alpine claim they had a deal in place for him to race in 2023, only for the Contract Recognition Board to rule. in favor of McLaren.
After losing the case, Alpine said he would reconsider his existing relationship with Piastri, which could have opened the door for him to join McLaren sooner.
But Piastri has since continued to work with Alpine in the simulator during race weekends, leaving McLaren to expect him to join the Aussie only after the season is over.
Asked if signing Gasly from Alpine for 2023 would help McLaren try to secure an early release for Piastri, team principal Andreas Seidl said: “I don’t think that really changes. much.
“They are still considering continuing the program, I understand, with Oscar until the end of the season.
“Therefore, there is not really any news.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL36
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Had McLaren been able to draft Piastri before the end of the season, he would have been eligible to fulfill his young driver requirement for both FP1 sessions this year.
But the team has announced that those sessions will be taken by 2021 IndyCar champion Alex Palou and Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward in Austin and Abu Dhabi respectively.
Alpine has yet to confirm its plans for young FP1 drivers, but must fulfill the requirement in the last four races.
Alpine had planned to give the sessions to Piastri from the French Grand Prix in mid-July, but team boss Otmar Szafnauer told Suzuka he was “not sure” if the Australian would participate in one of the last four events.
An alternative option for Alpine would be Formula 2 driver Jack Doohan, whose impressive rookie campaign in the category put him in contention for the seat that was eventually taken by Gasly.
Szafnauer said Alpine would “start thinking more seriously” about its young driver plans for 2023 now that its racing line-up was complete, but indicated Doohan’s priority would be to challenge for the F2 title next season. .
“Jack’s immediate priority must be to win the F2 championship next year,” Szafnauer said.
“We will support him through this process and help him along the way and also give him time in a car to prepare him for Formula 1.
“But yeah, we’re going to start looking at that, now that we’ve taken that step. [confirming Gasly].”