2022-2023 Silly Season Thread

[Alan52]

Given Alonso’s history with team changes this move probably dooms Aston Martin-although the owner’s decisions are already doing a pretty good job of that.
No upside for Alonso if the team is better in 3 years.New contract when he’s 45?
Alpine were not too fussed about letting him go.They have made the right call.Look at the points table where Alonso’s flashes of qualifying brilliance have rarely translated this year.Losing a 21 year old Piastri would be much worse for them than losing a 41 year old Alonso.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by greentrumpet

Good move, after the last race and the contretemps with Ocon, now could be a good time too reset.

And to remind Ocon perhaps that he's driving for the team, not just himself....?

[greentrumpet]

That too, he was always falling out with Perez at PincMerc wasn't he!

[NaBUru38]

Alpine and McLaren in reported dispute over Piastri


McLaren, stop signing drivers!

[Greem]

It's official: Piastri gets a seat at Alpine.

[steve_r]

Makes sense. I thought it would play out this way when Vettel announced his retirement. I look forward to seeing what he can do.

[peebee2]

I just heard he signed for McLaren yesterday morning when his Alpine-controlled option lapsed!

[Anyopenroad]

Originally Posted by Greem

It's official: Piastri gets a seat at Alpine.

Or...not! https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/pi...2023/10347898/

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Greem

It's official: Piastri gets a seat at Alpine.

Clearly some posturing going on. In another article around the same time...

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/o...onso/10347858/

Speaking earlier in the day, Szafnauer had explained that the team had not done an immediate deal with Piastri because things were not entirely settled.

"So Oscar and his camp are considering their options, whatever that means,” said Szafnauer.

It sounds like Alpine thinks (maybe has) Piastri wrapped up contractually. But whatever is going on is Alpine's perspective and not Piastri's

Richard

[Greem]

Oof.

https://mobile.twitter.com/OscarPias...27452231262210

Messy!

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

It sounds like Alpine thinks (maybe has) Piastri wrapped up contractually. But whatever is going on is Alpine's perspective and not Piastri's

Richard

Really?

Sounds to more like a long-term no 2/no 3/admin guy got a TP job on a short-term basis, then somehow got another TP job and now realises the job isn't maybe as easy as he thought.

To lose a double world-champion through being complacent in contract negotiations might be considered careless.

To then, on the same weekend, fly home and allow the option to lapse on the driver with arguably the best ever record in the history of junior racing might be considered even more incompetent.

It wouldn't suprise me if there's a third high-profile exit from Alpine shortly.

[Adam43]

Webber to Alpine is the only possible conclusion.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by peebee2

I just heard he signed for McLaren yesterday morning when his Alpine-controlled option lapsed!

Though someone else I know thinks he's signed for Red Bull and will drive for AT next year, with an expectation of replacing Perez later on!

Either way it seems he had 'options' once Alpine's option expired.

[broadrun96]

Wait, McLaren involved in a contract concern? Is this the right thread cause my head hurts now

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Really?

Sounds to more like a long-term no 2/no 3/admin guy got a TP job on a short-term basis, then somehow got another TP job and now realises the job isn't maybe as easy as he thought.

To lose a double world-champion through being complacent in contract negotiations might be considered careless.

To then, on the same weekend, fly home and allow the option to lapse on the driver with arguably the best ever record in the history of junior racing might be considered even more incompetent.

It wouldn't suprise me if there's a third high-profile exit from Alpine shortly.

Maybe I am not understanding your post, but is there something we disagree on? Assuming your assertions are correct regarding how Alonso exited and Piastri's option expired and others jumped on him/he jumped. I am not saying you are wrong. I am just commenting on what has been publicly stated by those involved.

Richard

[greentrumpet]

Webber to Renault!

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Maybe I am not understanding your post, but is there something we disagree on? Assuming your assertions are correct regarding how Alonso exited and Piastri's option expired and others jumped on him/he jumped. I am not saying you are wrong. I am just commenting on what has been publicly stated by those involved.

Richard

No, not disagreeing on what has been publicly stated friend. Just that it was all in Alpine’s gift but they made one disastrous move after another after another after another, starting with having no engine customer and giving Ocon a contract it had no need to.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Just that it was all in Alpine’s gift but they made one disastrous move after another after another after another, starting with having no engine customer and giving Ocon a contract it had no need to.

it really is a surprising number of missteps by Alpine and also for Otmar to lose out to his old team apparently only finding out through an AM press release that Alonso was leaving plus a tweet from Oscar saying he wont drive for them next year...

idk but it all seems more personal then business?

[Born Racer]

I don't know about the Oscar, but Otmar must have acted surprised today.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by peebee2

No, not disagreeing on what has been publicly stated friend. Just that it was all in Alpine’s gift but they made one disastrous move after another after another after another, starting with having no engine customer and giving Ocon a contract it had no need to.

It is looking like a faceplant for Alpine. Especially if their option on Piastri really did laps. Given the timing. I almost wonder if Alonso and Piastri were in cahoots together to somehow screw Alpine.

1. Alonso knows he is leaving.
2. He lets Piastri know.
3. Piastri signs contract with (McLaren?) but it only comes into play once his option with Alpine is gone
4. Alonso waits until Piastri's option expires. Then announces deal with AM without telling Alpine
5. Alpine panics and tries to exercise option on Piastri, but the option has expired and Piastri has contract elsewhere.

It makes a good story. Who knows if the dates and facts line up.

Lastly there is the large deja vu on this given this happens first recently in Indycar with Alex Palou, McLaren's Indycar team and Chip Ganassi Racing. Including public announcements of taking up contract options and in Indycar even providing quotes from Palou that he didn't make.

It is all very entertaining.

Richard

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

It is looking like a faceplant for Alpine. Especially if their option on Piastri really did laps. Given the timing. I almost wonder if Alonso and Piastri were in cahoots together to somehow screw Alpine.

1. Alonso knows he is leaving.
2. He lets Piastri know.
3. Piastri signs contract with (McLaren?) but it only comes into play once his option with Alpine is gone
4. Alonso waits until Piastri's option expires. Then announces deal with AM without telling Alpine
5. Alpine panics and tries to exercise option on Piastri, but the option has expired and Piastri has contract elsewhere.

It makes a good story. Who knows if the dates and facts line up.

Lastly there is the large deja vu on this given this happens first recently in Indycar with Alex Palou, McLaren's Indycar team and Chip Ganassi Racing. Including public announcements of taking up contract options and in Indycar even providing quotes from Palou that he didn't make.

It is all very entertaining.

Richard

Without us really knowing anything concrete at the moment, I think your suggestion above sounds very likely...

I very much doubt Piastri, or more likely his team, would so publicly twist Alpine if there wasnt a solid alternative.

And equally, they wouldnt sign with that solid alternative before ensuring they are legally in the right.

You'd think anyway, I imagine we will find out soon.

As a Mclaren fan, im hopeful this means doors for Riccardo. Hes been incredibly disapointing, yet that didnt seem too suprising. Whether it was Piastri, Palou, Herta, or O'Ward, Im not too bothered.

Course there is one possibility outside of Mclaren, perhaps Alpha Tauri have poached him into the RB family to replace Yuki... Seems less likely though

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Without us really knowing anything concrete at the moment, I think your suggestion above sounds very likely...

I very much doubt Piastri, or more likely his team, would so publicly twist Alpine if there wasnt a solid alternative.

And equally, they wouldnt sign with that solid alternative before ensuring they are legally in the right.

You'd think anyway, I imagine we will find out soon.

As a Mclaren fan, im hopeful this means doors for Riccardo. Hes been incredibly disapointing, yet that didnt seem too suprising. Whether it was Piastri, Palou, Herta, or O'Ward, Im not too bothered.

Course there is one possibility outside of Mclaren, perhaps Alpha Tauri have poached him into the RB family to replace Yuki... Seems less likely though

The only F1 doors open for Ricciardo are exit ones.He is 33 and not close to the driver he was 2014-2017.
If he wants to go and play with all the other old men in IndyCar he could.A lot of the grid is like a open wheeler version of golf’s Champions Tour.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

1. Alonso knows he is leaving.
2. He lets Piastri know.
3. Piastri signs contract with (McLaren?) but it only comes into play once his option with Alpine is gone
4. Alonso waits until Piastri's option expires. Then announces deal with AM without telling Alpine
5. Alpine panics and tries to exercise option on Piastri, but the option has expired and Piastri has contract elsewhere.

It makes a good story. Who knows if the dates and facts line up.

Definitely a good story . A bit far-fetched? Maybe. Formula 1 people do seem to have a way of making contracts much more complicated and acrimonious than they need to be.

[broadrun96]

You have to wonder what's in the water at Alpine for them to now look like Virgin or Marussia. When a kid who has no F1 race experience is willing to spin the wheel of where with McLaren you end up instead of a seat at Alpine you have to wonder.

And is McLaren getting a bit extended? They keep signing drivers to add to a full Indy lineup, full F1 lineup and what 2 Formula E seats? By my count there are at least 4 Indy drivers for 3 seats (pending the legal fun), 2 guys paid for F1, Piastri now and the continuous US media fun of some kid named Herta, and his buddy Pato, floating around for F1. That's possibly 8 for 5 seats unless they want FE ride to wait out Danny Ric until 2024.

My thoughts are no way in hell for Herta in F1, he's far too rough on his Indy equipment for F1 success, and he can really only go there but he's not under a contract, just a test and potentially the Young Driver testing later

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Definitely a good story . A bit far-fetched? Maybe. Formula 1 people do seem to have a way of making contracts much more complicated and acrimonious than they need to be.

Alonso and Webber, who is Piastri's manager, are old buddies so there could well be something in it.