Rising Australian motorsport young gun Oscar Piastri will replace fellow Aussie Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren in 2023, according to multiple bombshell reports.
Autosport reported on Friday that Piastri, who is currently Alpine’s reserve driver in Formula 1, has been targeted by McLaren to partner Lando Norris next season.
The news leaves Riccardo’s Formula 1 future in doubt, following a season in which the veteran Australian largely hasn’t been able to keep pace with his younger teammate.
Ricciardo remains contracted at McLaren in 2023, with a settlement having to be agreed to before he parts ways with the team he’s driven with since 2021.
The shock news comes amidst a dramatic week in Formula 1, after it emerged Aston Martin had signed Alpine’s Fernando Alonso to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel.
Alpine proceeded to announce that Piastri – who has had a contract with the constructor for several years – would drive alongside Esteban Ocon at the team next year.
Piastri then released a scathing statement on Twitter, saying he didn’t have a contract with Alpine and would not be driving with 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. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Piastri, who is managed by Australian Formula 1 icon Mark Webber, is coming off successive seasons winning both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championship and is widely seen to be the most talented driver without a seat on the Formula 1 grid.