Piastri stoked to join McLaren: 'A team with a tradition of giving young talent a chance'

Oscar Piastri will race for McLaren next year after the British team won its legal dispute against Alpine.

Fernando Alonso's move to Aston Martin to replace Sebastian Vettel saw Alpine announce that the highly-rated Piastri, 21, would be promoted from his role as reserve driver.

But Piastri later said he would not be driving for Alpine after, and unbeknown to the French team, he had signed a deal with McLaren to take the ousted Daniel Ricciardo's seat.

Formula 1's Driver Contract Recognition Board - which consists of four lawyers - met on last Monday to determine Piastri's fate, with their outcome published moments before second practice at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.

The CRB revealed Piastri signed his deal with McLaren on 4 July, the day after the British GP and more than seven weeks before Ricciardo's departure from McLaren was revealed. Ricciardo, who is now scrambling to save his F1 career, crossed the line 13th of the 14 finishers at Silverstone.

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BREAKING: Oscar Piastri will race for @McLarenF1 in 2023#F1 pic.twitter.com/ssw5PzWbSV

The FIA's statement

A statement from F1's governing the FIA read: "A Tribunal appointed by the Contract Recognition Board held a meeting on 29 August 2022 when counsel for Alpine Racing Limited, McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Oscar Piastri were heard.

"The Tribunal has issued a Unanimous Decision that the only Contract to be recognised by the Board is the Contract between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr Piastri dated 4 July 2022. Mr Piastri is entitled to drive for McLaren Racing Limited for the 2023 and 2024 seasons."

The development will come as a major blow to Alpine. The French team said it