LONDON: Oscar Piastri’s falling out with Alpine has also forced a change of plan at Williams and could have repercussions for the Formula 1 paddock.
While the main focus has been on Renault-owned Alpine and McLaren, both of whom want the 21-year-old Australian to drive for them next season, goalkeeper Williams has had to reconsider his next move.
Alpine’s original plan was to loan their reserve and last year’s Formula Two champion to Williams for at least a year and possibly longer until he returned to replace Fernando Alonso.
The principle was the same as when Mercedes placed George Russell at Williams for three seasons to learn the ropes before bringing him back as teammates to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Talks were so advanced that the Australian had a seat fitting at Williams and a contract was drawn up between the two teams for 2023, with Alpine having already agreed Piastri’s salary.
Then Alonso decided to drive for Aston Martin next year and Piastri, who offered the Alpine seat, said no – with a McLaren deal that seemed more enticing.
Piastri would have replaced Canadian Nicholas Latifi at Williams, the only driver on the grid who has yet to score a point in 13 races this season alongside British-born Thai Alexander Albon.
Latifi is bringing sponsorship and could potentially keep the seat, with many of the potential substitutes lacking that financial clout.
With Alpine currently fourth in the championship and Williams last, the seat spurned by Piastri is the more attractive one.
If Alpine don’t take on McLaren’s soon-to-be retired Australian Daniel Ricciardo, then they may find themselves in the same market as Williams.
One possibility that stands out is current Formula E champion and defending 2019 Formula 2 champion Nyck de Vries, a Mercedes F1 reserve who has already attended Friday’s first practice session with Williams.
De Vries, 27, is also looking for a 2023 seat as Mercedes withdraws from Formula E after selling its championship-leading team to McLaren.
Williams has 21-year-old American Logan Sargeant on his books and team boss Jost Capito said last month he sees the F2 driver as a prospect for the future, but it could be too early for him.
The future of Mick Schumacher, currently at Ferrari-powered Haas, has yet to be decided, while China’s former Alpine Academy driver Guanyu Zhou is enjoying a solid debut season at Alfa Romeo.
Alfa, run by Swiss company Sauber with former Renault team boss Fred Vasseur at the helm, has 18-year-old French F2 contender Theo Pourchaire on its books as a future talent.
In addition, racers are looking for a way back into Formula 1 and others, like India’s Jehan Daruvala, are hoping for a door that opens from the junior series.
“I’ve had all kinds of people (calls),” Alpine director Otmar Szafnauer told Reuters this week. “Some of the guys in the junior formulas, some of the Formula E guys. Maybe eight or ten.”