Oscar Piastri rejects Alpine’s F1 claim he will drive for them next season

Australian racing driver Oscar Piastri has sensationally contradicted reports from the Alpine Formula 1 team that he will drive for them in 2023.

Alpine — a factory team owned by Renault — announced the Australian, who has been their reserve driver this year, will step up next season.

This came after two-time world champion Fernando Alonso announced he was leaving the French outfit to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin.

Alpine announced Piastri would join Frenchman Esteban Ocon on a four-year deal starting next season.

However, shortly after, Piastri announced on social media that he had not signed a contract with the team and he would not be driving for them in 2023.

“I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year,” he said.

“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023.

This season, Piastri has been Alpine’s reserve driver, sitting behind Alonso and Ocon.

The Australian won the Formula 2 championship last year, the Formula 3 championship in 2020 and the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019.

There has been speculation he is eyeing off a drive with McLaren, where fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo has been struggling this year.

Piastri was also linked with the Williams team on a loan from Alpine earlier this year.