Alpine could seek millions in compensation at the high court if their Australian reserve Oscar Piastri refuses to race for them next season, according to the Formula One team’s principal Otmar Szafnauer.
Renault-owned Alpine announced highly-rated Piastri last week as replacement for double world champion Fernando Alonso in their 2023 lineup but the 21-year-old has ruled it out.
McLaren, who are fighting Alpine for fourth in the championship, have reportedly told Daniel Ricciardo he is being dropped for Piastri, last year’s Formula Two champion.
Szafnauer said all the indications from their base in Paris were that Alpine were prepared for a legal battle once the sport’s August break was over. “Going to the high court is over 90% certain that’s what we’ll do,” he told Reuters on Monday.