Reports have emerged today, claiming that Australian, and reigning Formula 2 Champion Oscare Piastri will be driving for McLaren in 2023.
The young driver has been involved in a fiasco after Alpine announced that he will be racing for them in 2023 replacing double Formula 1 Champion Fernando Alonso who announced that he will be driving for Aston Martin next season.
Piastri took to social media to deny Alpine’s statements, with reports linking him to a seat with McLaren to replace compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, who has not risen up to the team’s expectations with doubts surrounding his future despite having a valid contract for 2023, one only he can terminate prematurely.
However, RacingNews365 claimed today that they have learned that Piastri will be in fact joining McLaren in 2023, as his contract with the Woking squad has been cleared by the FIA’s contract recognition board.
The report also stated that Piastri has a contract with Alpine for 2022 only, that does not include 2023, but contains and option that locks him down with the Esntone-based squad next year, which has not been exercised on time, that is within the required 30 days of signing the contract.
McLaren has been silent during the whole matter which increases the speculations over the state of affairs between them and incumbent Ricciardo.
McLaren have not issued any official confirmation of their deal with Piastri at the time this report has been written.
More to follow in due course.