Alpine to decide on potential early contract release for Oscar Piastri

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer says that they will make a decision at the start of next week over whether they’ll release Oscar Piastri early from his contract with them.

The young Aussie’s situation is now clear; he will be driving for McLaren next season instead of Alpine.

Indeed, the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board met earlier last week and revealed their decision on Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix, with them handing McLaren the win in the case.

It means Piastri will be wearing papaya next year, then, but it also means a decision needs to be made by Alpine as to whether they’ll release him early from his contract with them.

As things stand, he is still on Alpine’s books through to the end of the year and he is still doing sim work for them, including over this weekend.

Normally, a driver would likely stay to the end of the term before making his switch but given how at times this has seemed quite an acrimonious split perhaps it would be best for an early parting of the ways.

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That said, then, Otmar Szafnauer said they’ll make a decision once business has been concluded here in Zandvoort:

“He’s with us this weekend, doing simulator work and he’ll continue this weekend.

“There’s only a couple of days left, today and tomorrow. And then on Monday we will get together with him and decide how we go forward.”