'Alpine shocked by Alonso news, Piastri main candidate to take over seat'

Alpine was unaware of Fernando Alonso' s switch to Aston Martin, which was announced recently. Team owner Otmar Szafnauer is said to have found out from Aston Martin's press release that his driver will be leaving in 2023.

News of Alonso came as a shock to Alpine

Journalists Jon Noble and Adam Cooper report on Twitter that the news was not known to Alpine. Szafnauer is reported to have said that he had to read the official announcement to find out and was under the impression that Alonso intended to stay, based on recent talks. The team boss is also said to have confirmed that Oscar Piastri is the main candidate to take over from the two-time world champion.

However, Piastri's arrival could be hampered by agreements that the driver and his manager, Mark Webber, have made with McLaren. It is not clear what the deal is, but there has been talk of Alpine lending the driver to the Woking-based team. However, Alpine believes that the driver is obliged by his contract to play for the French team if he is called upon to do so.

Interesting chat this morning to Alpine team Otmar Szafnauer about the Alonso/Aston Martin fallout. He only found out about the shock move from press release; Piastri is team's preferred candidate as replacement. Stories coming soon.

— Jon Noble (@NobleF1) August 2, 2022

'@AlpineF1Team boss Otmar Szafnauer has confirmed that the first the team knew about @alo_oficial's departure was from yesterday's @AstonMartinF1 press release. As of Sunday night, and the last chat with ALO, they still thought he was staying

— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) August 2, 2022

Confirmed too that there is now a legal limbo with @OscarPiastri. @AlpineF1Team clearly believes that PIA is contractually obliged to drive if offered a 2023 race seat. The question now is what sort of arrangement he and manager Mark Webber have made with @McLarenF1...

— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperF1) August 2, 2022