Mark Webber breaks silence over Oscar Piastri saga involving McLaren and Alpine

Mark Webber has broken his silence after McLaren won the battle against Alpine to sign Oscar Piastri.

Alpine had announced that Piastri, their talented reserve driver, would replace Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso from 2023 at the start of August, only for the young Australian to quickly declare on Twitter that he wouldn’t be driving for the Renault-backed squad next year.

Piastri had in fact signed a contract with McLaren on July 4, with F1’s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) emphatically ruling in the Woking team’s favour on Friday. It has emerged that Alpine did not have a valid contract with Piastri for 2023.

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Former Red Bull driver Webber, who is Piastri’s manager, has been a key figure in the move, but kept a low profile during the summer break as the saga played out. However, he has finally given his verdict on events in his role as pundit for Channel 4 at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Asked first why Piastri chose McLaren over Alpine, he said: “The chronological situation was that Fernando was still there at the table. It wasn’t a choice between the two at the time when the choice was made, and Oscar made the decision to join McLaren.”

On Piastri’s conduct, including his public rejection of Alpine on social media, Webber added: “His hand was forced. He knew he didn’t have a contract, he knew he’d already signed for another team and Alpine had put out a statement saying he was going to drive for them next year.

“So it was an awkward statement for Oscar to put out. Of course he felt awkward about that but he had to put a hard line in the sand to make his position absolutely clear. And also Alpine knew that position [that he had signed for McLaren] before that statement went out, which was all the more frustrating for Oscar.

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“It’s the biggest moment of his life, going to join Formula 1. Then to have this [statement], which wasn’t totally correct, was really tough on him.”

During the saga, Alpine regularly highlighted the investment they had made in Piastri, but Webber insisted figures had been inflated.

“I think the numbers have really been ballooned out of proportion,” he said. “In the junior categories, Oscar got some good money from winning those championships outside of Alpine’s investment.

“Over 80 per cent of the budget was supplied by outside sponsors and Oscar’s family for his junior career. It’s important to get some context.”

Piastri remains contracted to Alpine for the rest of 2022 as a reserve and test driver, although he could leave before the end of the year. Webber expects more news on his driver’s immediate future to be announced in the week.

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