Piastri emerges as potential key figure in McLaren–Palou standoff

After the breaking news of Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin in early August 2022, Alpine — which had the Australian in its ranks as a reserve driver after his back-to-back titles in Formula Academy, F3 and F2 — quickly announced him as the natural successor to the Spaniard for the following season.

However, just a few hours later, the Melbourne-born driver took to social media to firmly deny the news, stating: “I have not signed a contract with Alpine and I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”

The denial instantly spread across social media and the web, with McLaren — backed by the ruling of the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) — swiftly confirming the Australian’s two-year deal as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement.

According to PlanetF1, Piastri’s contract with McLaren was signed on June 3, 2022, and subsequently submitted to the CRB as per protocol. That very date could play a key role in the recent legal dispute involving the British team on one side and Alex Palou on the other.

On July 12, 2022, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that the Spaniard would remain with the team for the 2023 season. However, just like Piastri, he publicly contradicted that statement shortly after, declaring: “I have no intention of continuing with CGR. I have recently signed with McLaren Racing.”

It therefore appears evident that, having signed his contract with McLaren more than a month after Piastri, Palou was never realistically in line for a Formula 1 seat — at least not for the 2023 season.

While everything seemed set for his move to McLaren in IndyCar for 2024 — after completing several TPC sessions with Formula 1 machinery and even making his FP1 debut in Abu Dhabi in 2022 — Palou made the shock decision to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing for the following season.

That’s when the legal dispute between the two parties began, with McLaren accusing the driver of breaching a signed contract and demanding a substantial compensation fee reportedly worth around $21 million.

For his part, the four-time IndyCar champion recently claimed he was misled by Zak Brown regarding his chances of securing a Formula 1 seat with McLaren.

Palou, who testified at the trial along with Brown, stated: “On September 22, they had a conversation with Zak, and Zak had told them they needed someone who would be quick in 2023, but that this would not interfere with my chances to get into F1.”

Brown, on the other hand, defended his position by saying: “I told him what the opportunities would be in F1. I never told him he would be under consideration.”