Wolff fears: 'We will be employing even more lawyers'

Toto Wolff has looked at Oscar Piastri's situation with surprise. Alpine thought it could move the driver on for next season, but the Australian had already reached an agreement with McLaren. According to Wolff this is not a good thing, he told The Race.

The Austrian team boss sees how much Mercedes invests in its talented drivers. According to Wolff, they should therefore expect something in return from their drivers, but Piastri's move to McLaren has put further pressure on this.

Although Alpine was convinced it could lift an option in Piastri's contract, the Contract Recognition Board decided otherwise. It means that Alpine has to look for another driver for 2023 and McLaren has Piastri in.

Situation Piastri worries Wolff

Wolff does not agree with the ruling. "We invest human resources that go to the go-kart tracks, to the junior formulas, and in some cases, it’s little money, some cases it’s more," he said in the interview.

"To know now that a precedent has been set that if you’re clever you can manoeuvre yourself out is something that’s clearly not good for the industry. So, we will be employing even more lawyers for even stricter contracts. But for me, I believe in the integrity also of the drivers we have."