Opinion
The Formula One silly season’s most controversial saga has at last seen resolution, with the Contract Recognition Board delivering their verdict that Aussie sensation Oscar Piastri has a valid contract with McLaren and not Alpine.
It was a bitter blow to the French manufacturer, who facilitated and nurtured the 21-year old Melburnian through his junior career and invested heavily in an extensive testing programme whilst on the sidelines in 2022. Now Piastri’s Formula One future lies outside that of the Enstone team.
“I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me,” Piastri said in the McLaren statement announcing his appointment.
“The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance and I’m looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid. I’m focussed on preparing for my F1 debut in 2023 and starting my F1 career in papaya.”
While some may still be writhing and calling out betrayal at the most surprising detail in the CRB statement, that Piastri and McLaren had signed a contract on July 4 – a week prior to incumbent Daniel Ricciardo’s heartfelt Instagram post committing himself to 2023 – the deed is done and the Woking outfit is looking forward to a future with Lando Norris and Piastri.
Oscar Piastri celebrates at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)
The focus must now be on whether McLaren’s gamble on the reigning Formula 2 champion and 2020 Formula 3 champion will be worth it. The same question will be asked of Piastri, who’s adorned the headlines and is yet to race in Formula One.
In terms of credentials, Piastri on paper compares to Formula 2’s most notable alumni in recent years. The likes of George Russell and Charles Leclerc who find themselves at the top end of the Formula One grid and with machinery capable of winning grand prix. And of course, his teammate to be in Norris – who in such a young career has destroyed Ricciardo in terms of the comparison metrics.
Piastri and his management, spearheaded by nine-time Formula One race winner in Mark Webber has to be lauded for their bold approach to getting the 21-year old onto the grid. A debut with back-of-the-grid Williams, as what Alpine had intended originally, would’ve have seen Piastri have to emulate Russell – who spent three seasons consigned there before his promotion to Mercedes.
Though aiming high and pushing for a debut with McLaren, who despite having dropped in their performance this year, is still regarded one of the better teams. It carries greater risk than having stayed with Alpine, who are currently ahead of McLaren in the constructor’s championship and have comfortably the fourth fastest car. Not to mention having to learn the functions of a new team and a different car philosophy – one that’s more inherently difficult.
This is where the risk could pay off and Piastri’s talents can be realised. With a more technically sound mind than the departing and more instinctual Ricciardo, the Aussie could learn to adapt to the McLaren more easily as Norris and his former teammate Carlos Sainz did. After all, Norris will be the benchmark for Piastri and will have to perform better than Ricciardo has in qualifying – where on average he’s half-a-second off Lando.
It would be remiss to not mention that McLaren are still hamstrung by their outdated infrastructure. A fact that Team Principal Andreas Seidl kindly reminded everyone in his comments to Sky Sports F1 following the CRB verdict. With the arrival of a new wind tunnel and driver simulator in 2024, it’s unlikely that McLaren can return to championship challenging capacity until then. Though this haemorrhaging of points, which cost them third in the constructor’s championship last year and now possibly fourth needs to stop.
Piastri offers at least hope of this, as he and McLaren can start from scratch. The best case scenario is that his talents are fully realised and the team could boast an exciting, young combination. And after all that has unfolded with Ricciardo, the younger Aussie must perform and cope with the pressure cooker that is Formula One.
Looking for great odds on racing and sport? Get into the action with PlayUp today. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Since the Aussie's last victory, he has claimed seven second-placed finishes after being unable to catch Alex Palou.
Theo Pourchaire replaces David Malukas, who got injured and then fired before he could even sit in the car.
The third ever Miami Grand Prix is in the history books and finally Lando Norris has tasted the victory champagne. That is one of…
The Australian finished second but had to work for it, as he fought off food poisoning, a race day engine change, and his own overheating body.
Nico Hulkenberg's move to a German team will hopefully bring back some of the German flare Formula 1 had just seven years ago.
Given how exclusive and precious a commodity scoring an F1 point is, why is it that mediocrity should be rewarded?
