McLaren F1 boss slams ‘credibility’ of Alpine team chief over criticism of Aussie star Oscar Piastri

McLaren boss Zak Brown has fired back at Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer, insisting he should not be ‘making accusations around ethics’ as the saga over Oscar Piastri’s contract rumbles on.

On Saturday, Szafanuer accused Piastri, the Alpine reserve driver, of ‘lacking integrity’ as the 21-year-old continues to be linked with a move to McLaren to replace fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo next season.

‘My wish for Oscar was that he had a bit more integrity,’ Szafnauer told NewsCorp on Saturday on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

McLaren boss Zak Brown has fired back at Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer 

‘He signed a bit of paper back in November and we’ve done everything on our end of the bargain to prepare him for F1 and his end of that was to either drive for us or take a seat where we would place him for the next three years.’

Earlier this month, Alpine announced they would be promoting Piastri to fill Fernando Alonso’s seat from next season, after the Spaniard signed with Aston Martin to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel in 2023.

Piastri, however, insisted no agreement had been reached, leaving him and Alpine in an awkward situation.

And Brown suggested Szafanuer was not in a position to lecture anybody over ethics. 

Oscar Piastri remains embroiled in a contract dispute with Alpine ahead of next season 

Szafnauer questioned the young Aussie’s integrity during an interview on Saturday 

 ‘I don’t know any of the details between that relationship, so I think it would be unfair for me to take a position either way because I simply don’t know,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘But judging by recent times, the way Fernando [Alonso] has departed and caught Otmar by surprise, and not too long ago he was the recipient of a €400,000 ($538,000) fine and 15 points [deduction] […] I’m not sure he comes with the highest level of credibility and making accusations around ethics.’

The remark relates to the 2020 season, when Szafnauer’s Racing Point team was found to have used an illegal design process. 

A world champion in Formula 2 and Formula 3 over the past two seasons, it seems inevitable Piastri’s Formula 1 debut will come sooner rather than later.

Piastri has been linked with McLaren to replace the departing Daniel Ricciardo

The Australian is managed by former Red Bull star Mark Webber and has long been considered as the leading candidate to replace Ricciardo at McLaren.

Earlier this week, the Woking-based team announced the 32-year-old had agreed to leave McLaren at the end of the season, a year earlier than anticipated. 

A potential switch to McLaren, however, is complicated by the fact Alpine insist Piastri is under contract with the team through the 2023 season, a claim the Australian has steadfastly rejected so far.

The International Motoring Federation (FIA) contract recognition board (CRB) will try to resolve the impasse next week, when it is due to assess the situation and Szafnauer feels it will rule in Alpine’s favour.

But Alpine want Piastri to fill Fernando Alonso’s seat, with the Spaniard set to replace Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin for the 2023 season 

‘We are going to the CRB on Monday. I don’t know when they will rule, it will be soon thereafter,’ he said.

‘We’ll have the CRB decide which contract that Oscar signed takes precedence, and once we have that ruling we’ll look forward and see where we go.

‘I’ve seen both sides of the argument and we’re confident that Oscar signed with us back in November and there are certain things that need to be in the contract and I’m confident they are in there.’