McLaren Accuses Rival F1 Team of ‘Bullying’ Oscar Piastri During 2022 Contract Dispute
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reignited controversy over Oscar Piastri’s highly publicized switch from Alpine to McLaren by accusing Alpine of attempting to “bully” the young driver into staying with the team. Brown’s comments shed light on what was already one of Formula 1’s most talked-about contract disputes in recent years.
Piastri, who has been a standout performer in the 2025 F1 season with four wins in the first six races, played a crucial role in McLaren’s impressive run in 2024, helping the team finish strongly in the Constructors’ Championship. Despite his success now, his path to the McLaren seat was far from smooth.
The Australian driver originally came through the ranks with the Alpine Academy and served as a reserve driver for both Alpine and McLaren during the 2022 season. When Fernando Alonso left Alpine at the end of that year, it was widely expected that Piastri would be promoted to a full-time race seat alongside Esteban Ocon. However, what followed was a dramatic and confusing series of events.
Alpine issued a press release in August 2022, officially announcing that Piastri would be their race driver for 2023. The statement claimed the team was honoring its commitment to the young talent by giving him the opportunity to step up. However, the announcement notably lacked any quotes from Piastri himself—an unusual move in F1 driver signings. This quickly raised eyebrows.
Shortly after Alpine’s announcement, Piastri took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to publicly deny the claim. In a now-iconic statement, he wrote: “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. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.” His response shocked the F1 community and instantly turned the situation into a major off-track saga.
According to Brown, this was a deliberate attempt by Alpine to pressure Piastri into remaining with them, despite his desire to move to McLaren. “It was used to bully him into doing what they wanted,” Brown told Mail Sport. He went on to criticize then-Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, suggesting that Szafnauer had failed to do his due diligence upon joining the team. “He got caught with his pants down,” Brown said. “When you take over a team, it’s your job to assess everything and fix problems. He didn’t.”
Brown also highlighted how the Contract Recognition Board (CRB), the F1 body responsible for resolving contract disputes, ruled in McLaren’s favor and even ordered Alpine to cover their legal expenses—a clear indication of who was at fault in the matter.
This saga has since become a defining moment in Piastri’s career, demonstrating his assertiveness and the legal strength of McLaren’s case. Now a race winner and title contender, Piastri has silenced any doubts about his move—and Brown’s comments serve as a reminder of just how messy his journey to the top once was.
