The CRB unanimously validates Piastri's McLaren contract, Alpine rejected

His verdict was awaited with feverish impatience. Especially at McLaren et Alpine necessarily. The CRB (Contract Recognition Board, the independent body of the FIA ​​responsible for certifying the validity of contracts signed between drivers and teams) finally ruled in favor of the English team in the dispute between it and its French rival.

Concretely, the Contract Recognition Office believes that the young Australian (21 years old) was within his rights when signing the agreement which will make him a McLaren starter from 2023. The native of Melbourne (Victoria) will replace his compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, whose adventure in Woking was cut short.

Alpine had nevertheless drawn the first at the beginning of August by announcing the promotion of its reservist and graduate of theAlpine Academy, barely 24 hours after the resounding announcement of the departure of Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin.

Piastres and his clan was quick to react. In the hours following the press release Alpine, the former champion F2 et F3 formally denied any agreement for 2023 with the team that accompanied him during his training years.

UNANIMOUS DECISION, NEW CAMOUFLET FOR ALPINE

The dispute logically moved to the legal field, with the CRB being asked to untangle the contractual bag of knots. It was unanimously that the body considered that only the contract linking McLaren Racing to Piastri, dated July 4, 2022, was valid.

« The Contract Recognition Office was established to manage the registration of contracts for drivers entered in the FIA ​​World Championship. Formula 1, and determine who has priority in the event of litigation and/or overlapping contracts, reminds the FIA ​​in a press release transmitted shortly before Free Practice 2 of the Dutch GP.

The CRB brings together 4 people of different nationalities, and 4 rolling members, all of whom are internationally qualified lawyers with extensive experience in contract law.

The Bureau is appointed by the current President of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce ».

Meeting on August 29, 2022, the Monday after the last Belgian Grand Prix, the court appointed by the CRB reached the unanimous conclusion that “ only the contract recognized by the Bureau is the contract signed between McLaren Racing Limited and Mr. Piastri dated July 4. Mr. Piastri therefore has the right to drive for McLaren during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. ».

To Alpine, it is obviously a new snub after the surprise departure of Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin, announced the Monday following the Hungarian GP, ​​and the refusal of Piastri, whose French team paid for a good part of the training.

The arrowed “ took note of the CRB's decision and considers the file closed ". She will announce Alonso's replacement " at a later date ". Yes Esteban Ocon made no secret of his preference for Mick Schumacher but it's the track Pierre Gasly who seems to be holding the rope the most at the moment.

ALSO READ > Official: Oscar Piastri starting driver at McLaren in 2023