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McLaren boss Zak Brown is “not sure” Alpine kingpin Otmar Szafnauer should be “making accusations around ethics” as the ugly fallout between the two teams over the Oscar Piastri saga continues.
Brown’s dig comes after Szafnauer expressed his confidence that Alpine had a strong legal case to present to Formula One’s Contract Recognition Board to decide where Piastri will be racing next season.
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The announcement of Fernando Alonso’s move to Aston Martin next season prompted Alpine to quickly issue a statement declaring reserve driver Piastri would be promoted to an F1 seat next season, only for the Aussie to state he would not drive for the French team in 2023.
It’s seemingly all but confirmed Piastri is headed to Ricciardo, with those reports fuelled by the latter’s official announcement he would not be driving for McLaren next year.
It led Szafnauer to question Piastri’s character for how he has handled the situation.
“He’s a promising young driver,” Szafnauer said.
“He hasn’t driven in F1 yet. And my wish for Oscar was that he had a bit more integrity.”
However, Brown hit back at the Alpine boss over his Piastri comments.
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“Ultimately I don’t know any of the details between that relationship, so I think it would be unfair for me to take a position either way because I simply don’t know,” Brown told Sky Sports.
“But judging by recent times, the way Fernando has departed and caught Otmar by surprise, and not too long ago he is the recipient of a €400,000 fine and 15 points, I’m not sure he comes with the highest level of credibility and making accusations around ethics.”
Brown’s pot shot was in reference to an incident at the start of the 2020 season when Szafnauer’s Racing Point team was found to have used an illegal design process.
Despite Brown’s verbal job, Szafnauer remains steadfast Piastri’s contract, which is for 2023 and includes an option for 2024, will hold up in Alpine’s favour.
“We are going to the CRB on Monday. I don’t know when they will rule, it will be soon thereafter,” Szafnauer said.
“We’ll have the CRB decide which contract that Oscar signed takes precedence, and once we have that ruling we’ll look forward and see where we go.
“I’ve seen both sides of the argument and we’re confident that Oscar signed with us back in November and there are certain things that need to be in the contract and I’m confident they are in there.”
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