The Official F1 2023 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
Peter Windsor, trying to make sense of the last couple of days.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=aVOy7lr2D-E
The one bit I think he missed, is what is the status of the contract between Piastri and Alpine? Was there a loophole to make it lapse, or has the driver broken it. Renault have invested millions in their young driver, can they sue him for it to be returned?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=aVOy7lr2D-E
The one bit I think he missed, is what is the status of the contract between Piastri and Alpine? Was there a loophole to make it lapse, or has the driver broken it. Renault have invested millions in their young driver, can they sue him for it to be returned?
Sandpit Steve said:
Peter Windsor, trying to make sense of the last couple of days.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=aVOy7lr2D-E
The one bit I think he missed, is what is the status of the contract between Piastri and Alpine? Was there a loophole to make it lapse, or has the driver broken it. Renault have invested millions in their young driver, can they sue him for it to be returned?
Such logical thinking might be irrelevant. Driver salaries are outside the cost-cap so teams can pay big if they want a driver, including buying one out of what at best is probably a fairly low-level contract in value terms, he was just a reserve after all. Whatever millions Renault spent, it was their decision to keep him as reserve so they can only apportion so much of that investment as 'lost' due to this.https://youtube.com/watch?v=aVOy7lr2D-E
The one bit I think he missed, is what is the status of the contract between Piastri and Alpine? Was there a loophole to make it lapse, or has the driver broken it. Renault have invested millions in their young driver, can they sue him for it to be returned?
And would they try and go the legal route when they themselves presumably broke contractual terms by publicly announcing he would drive for them with no consultation with the guy? The whole thing seems unbelievably scrappy to me.
TheDeuce said:
Such logical thinking might be irrelevant. Driver salaries are outside the cost-cap so teams can pay big if they want a driver, including buying one out of what at best is probably a fairly low-level contract in value terms, he was just a reserve after all. Whatever millions Renault spent, it was their decision to keep him as reserve so they can only apportion so much of that investment as 'lost' due to this.
And would they try and go the legal route when they themselves presumably broke contractual terms by publicly announcing he would drive for them with no consultation with the guy? The whole thing seems unbelievably scrappy to me.
It’s a little more than that. Alpine have invented let’s say £10m in Piastri, and have a contract with him until the end of 2024. The contract states that they’ll either race him or place him in 2023, and he’ll race for Alpine in 2024. And would they try and go the legal route when they themselves presumably broke contractual terms by publicly announcing he would drive for them with no consultation with the guy? The whole thing seems unbelievably scrappy to me.
Alpine were intending to place him with WIlliams in 2023, then Alonso walked so they agreed to race him.
The question is, was there somehow a total break clause in the contract, that allows the driver to walk away from all that investment and go drive somewhere else, on 1st August? If so, Alpine need to fire their lawyer. There’s apparently been several hundred hours of private testing in 2018 cars this spring and summer, at a cost of several million.
Edit: LOL at the out-of-contract Boris Johnson getting the Alpine drive. Not sure he has enough Super Licence points though.
Sandpit Steve said:
TheDeuce said:
Such logical thinking might be irrelevant. Driver salaries are outside the cost-cap so teams can pay big if they want a driver, including buying one out of what at best is probably a fairly low-level contract in value terms, he was just a reserve after all. Whatever millions Renault spent, it was their decision to keep him as reserve so they can only apportion so much of that investment as 'lost' due to this.
And would they try and go the legal route when they themselves presumably broke contractual terms by publicly announcing he would drive for them with no consultation with the guy? The whole thing seems unbelievably scrappy to me.
It’s a little more than that. Alpine have invented let’s say £10m in Piastri, and have a contract with him until the end of 2024. The contract states that they’ll either race him or place him in 2023, and he’ll race for Alpine in 2024. And would they try and go the legal route when they themselves presumably broke contractual terms by publicly announcing he would drive for them with no consultation with the guy? The whole thing seems unbelievably scrappy to me.
Alpine were intending to place him with WIlliams in 2023, then Alonso walked so they agreed to race him.
The question is, was there somehow a total break clause in the contract, that allows the driver to walk away from all that investment and go drive somewhere else, on 1st August? If so, Alpine need to fire their lawyer. There’s apparently been several hundred hours of private testing in 2018 cars this spring and summer, at a cost of several million.
Edit: LOL at the out-of-contract Boris Johnson getting the Alpine drive. Not sure he has enough Super Licence points though.
All very weird. But McLaren apparently have an FIA ratified contract with him now so... I suppose that's evidence that there was a way out. Perhaps a paid way out but I can't imagine McLaren paid off tens of millions to a competitor to bag a rookie, more likely Alpine were on unstable ground and whatever deal has gone through was simply a better option to accept than to fight.
And we'll never know for sure whatever actually went on
PhilAsia said:
cgt2 said:
I for one cannot wait to see how Piastri does alongside Norris. What a phenomenal pairing McLaren will have.
Indeed. I thought Lewis and Russell was rock solid driver abilities. I really rate Norris as well, but Piastri looks to have the minerals too!Can't wait!!
So many names being bandied about . So much speculation. History suggests F1 is a graveyard for most of those who ever get a seat and don’t capitalise on it very early on . Maybe Piastri will prove to be a Lewis Hamilton and make us drop our jaws at his performances. If so then Norris better start watching out as he’ll be next in line for abuse and derision.If Ricciardo is yesterday’s man and the future is with these young hot shots then there are many others that should join him in uncertain futures . History again suggests that most will not meet the overblown expectations of them obtained in F2 etc and the churn will continue ad infinitum . It’s a dog eat dog world in F1 and never more so than now.
Don’t rule out Gasly, apparently he has a get out clause too... as long as the team is above Alpha Tauri in the standings. 
https://apple.news/AYDe-EoEcS4CjnidVWfbt0A
NB: Liam Lawson tipped to replace Tsunoda
So... in theory & stranger things have happened.
Piastri : Mclaren
Gasly: Alpine
Lawson: Alpha Tauri.
DR... #1 @ Alpha Tauri.
https://apple.news/AYDe-EoEcS4CjnidVWfbt0A
NB: Liam Lawson tipped to replace Tsunoda
So... in theory & stranger things have happened.
Piastri : Mclaren
Gasly: Alpine
Lawson: Alpha Tauri.
DR... #1 @ Alpha Tauri.
Edited by Milkyway on Sunday 7th August 06:19
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff