“The one contract to be recognised by the board is the contract between McLaren Racing Restricted and Mr Piastri dated 4 July 2022,” governing physique FIA stated in an announcement on Friday.
“Mr Piastri is entitled to drive for McLaren Racing Restricted for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.”
Alpine stated it accepted the ruling, which leaves it with a vacant seat subsequent 12 months – with which Ricciardo’s identify has already been linked, together with AlphaTauri’s French driver Pierre Gasly.
“We contemplate the matter closed on our aspect and can announce our full 2023 driver line-up sooner or later,” the workforce stated in an announcement.
Alpine had been enraged by Piastri’s stance, with Szafnauer saying final week he wished the teenager “had a bit extra integrity”.
However on Friday, the Victorian thanked the workforce for the backing they’d lengthy given him.
“I’ve been racing for 12 years and this was my dream from the very starting,” he stated.
“So I simply need to thank everyone who supported me all through my journey, together with my colleagues at Alpine for the previous few years.”
McLaren’s workforce principal Andreas Seidl welcomed the Australian, saying: “Oscar has a powerful racing profession so far, and we’re certain that along with Lando, he’ll be capable to assist us transfer one other step ahead in direction of our ambitions.”
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Certainly, Piastri has a exceptional motorsport resume already, having received the 2019 Method Renault Eurocup earlier than occurring to win the 2020 Method 3 title and final 12 months’s Method 2 crown in successive rookie seasons.
“The workforce has an extended custom of giving younger expertise an opportunity, and I’m trying ahead to working exhausting alongside Lando [British teammate Lando Norris] to push the workforce in direction of the entrance of the grid,” stated Piastri.
“I’m targeted on getting ready for my F1 debut in 2023 and beginning my F1 profession in papaya.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown hailed Piastri as “one of many up-and-coming skills” and stated he might type a potent, youthful mixture with Norris, who has had six podium finishes by the age of twenty-two.
“In Lando and Oscar we now have a younger, thrilling F1 line-up with an enormous quantity of potential, standing us in good stead to realize our future ambitions,” Brown stated.
“Oscar is an thrilling addition to the McLaren household, and we sit up for seeing him develop with our F1 workforce.”
AAP, Reuters
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