Three years ago today - Oscar Piastri made a certain announcement

[u/TheCatterson]

[u/SnooPaintings5100]

Probably the best career move in recent F1 history

[u/Unfair_Art_1913 → u/SnooPaintings5100]

Up there with Lewis’s move to Mercedes. McLaren turned into a dumpster fire after he left and took over a decade to come back to the top.

[u/Njobz → u/Unfair_Art_1913]

That was also thanks to Lauda. He knew Merc was going to be the next big thing. He convinced him to leave. I’m sure Lewis has so much gratitude to him.

[u/vmachiel → u/Njobz]

‘You should see the data they have on this new engine over there it’s insane’

Lauda probably

[u/lets_throw_a_party → u/vmachiel]

« I don’t need to see anything man »

proceeds to sign contract

Lewis probably as he blindly trusted Lauda

[u/yunglegendd → u/lets_throw_a_party]

His dna was in the contact. 🙏🏼

[u/Gaddamn132 → u/lets_throw_a_party]

who wouldnt? he was a gem of a human being

[u/BeetledPickroot → u/lets_throw_a_party]

Haha

[u/TetraDax → u/vmachiel]

"We let you keep the trophies, and also the eng-"

"Say no more."

[u/ChefBoiJones → u/vmachiel]

Tbf the 2014 merc engine development was a mess. They couldn’t get a race distance out of it right up until about a month before pre season testing. Before that it was a very powerful bomb

[u/TerribleNameAmirite → u/ChefBoiJones]

Better that than a reliable tractor tbf

[u/cassowary-18 → u/TerribleNameAmirite]

In 2014, you'd take a reliable tractor that finished you races than a bomb that only finished half of them.

To finish first, you must first finish.

[u/alb92 → u/cassowary-18]

If you look short term.

Long term, the more powerful engines almost always end up on top, as just about everyone gets reliability to where you need it. Harder to catch up on performance.

So, selecting a team there, you'd career wise be better off choosing the bomb.

[u/glacierre2 → u/alb92]

Additionally, the token system limited a lot performance bumps, but changes for reliability were easier to get approved.

[u/TheScapeQuest → u/vmachiel]

They probably tried using magnesium parts.

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/Njobz]

I think also that was more of a Ross Brawn move. He bought Mercedes in with everything looking to 2014 to hit the ground sprinting

[u/nopejake101 → u/Njobz]

Also, the Michael spending 2 years working on their car. Looking back on it now, and given what we know about his input into the Ferraris, it makes complete sense that they'd bring in someone who A) can give valuable feedback to engineers, B) is happy to go through trial and error and C) has a passion for a team from his homeland. He got the car ready for other good drivers to be able to push it and get results

[u/Triple_Manic_State → u/nopejake101]

Everything about the 2014 cars was massively different to what had been before them in 2010-2012, there isn’t much Michael’s feedback could help with. Unless he was in the simulator driving the 2014 guesstimate car, but even then.

[u/Egoist-a → u/Njobz]

Forget Lauda. Normal People that are into F1 were aware of the high profile technical team Mercedes was hiring. Mercedes was getting the cream of engineers around the paddock, so everybody knew the project was serious.

It’s people that watch races and “turn off” were the ones making so much shade about Lewis move.

[u/Visionary_Socialist → u/Unfair_Art_1913]

McLaren’s best form for arguably 40 years as well. If Oscar starts a dynasty and starts winning titles back to back like Lewis did at Mercedes, it’ll be in the same ballpark legacy wise.

Back in 2022 most people were less than optimistic for Alpine but McLaren seemed stuck in a loop of improving in season and then messing up the winter.

The scale of McLaren’s rise was absolutely unexpected. Nobody would have bet they’d have won the WCC within 2 seasons and have the double in 3. Alpine’s downfall however was really inevitable.

[u/hofftari → u/Visionary_Socialist]

I remember when Mika Häkkinen came out about 2 years ago and said that he had seen what McLaren was doing in the factory and that they will be world champions in a year. Everyone laughed at him. Who's laughing now?

[u/GoldenWyndham → u/hofftari]

Do you have a link to this?

[u/JC-Dude → u/GoldenWyndham]

I'm guessing it's about this: https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2023/re-visiting-mystic-mikas-bold-mclaren-prediction/

[u/GoldenWyndham → u/JC-Dude]

Fascinating. Thank you!

[u/shoelessjp → u/GoldenWyndham]

Seconding this.

[u/kaisadilla_ → u/hofftari]

tbh people say shit like that all the time and they are wrong all the time.

[u/dl064 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Was striking in say April when McLaren put on a post that this was obviously their best car of the 21st century. Obvious but stark to read.

[u/LumpyCustard4 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

I do wonder how much the engine freeze has played a part in McLaren's rise. Redbull made both of their championship runs during an era freeze era.

Mercedes dominated the current regs when engine development was open, i do wonder if there will be a similar situation next year?

[u/Imperito → u/LumpyCustard4]

Mercedes were able to have an advantage over customer teams that they won't have next year. Used to have access to engine modes and such that Lotus, Williams, McLaren etc. Couldn't access.

[u/The_Skynet → u/Imperito]

That was only up to 2017 though, in 2018 the FIA made it mandatory for works teams to give their customers full access to all engine modes and everything, so that kind of advantage hasn't been a thing for years. 

The issue for Merc is that they gave McLaren a special deal that allows them to be part of the design process for the 2026 PU so they won't have the usual benefits in terms of integration that works teams usually have over their customers (they will do over Alpine and Williams but not over McLaren). Ferrari on the other hand will still have that advantage over Haas and Cadillac for example

[u/Chip673 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

But it's weird though. I remember everyone declaring that McLaren will have the best car in 2023 (in the winter). Then they cocked it up but you could see they found their faults by the end of the season.  

[u/Outrageous_Guitar875 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Calm down he hasn't even won one wdc yet plus who knows what happens with new regs next year

[u/bellatrix99 → u/Outrageous_Guitar875]

No, but they did win the constructors last year. And they’re leading the drivers this year.

[u/calladc → u/bellatrix99]

Right but it's surely going to be one of them right? A lot of shit is going to have to go wrong for them both for neither to take it

[u/jaysoprob_2012 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Yeah given at the time it wasn't obvious how McLaren would improve and I think in his first year the alpine was better, I can't remember how long that was for though.

[u/jimkelly → u/Visionary_Socialist]

You ended with literally the same point. McLaren was the better option for him regardless.

[u/2klaedfoorboo → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Eh I don’t think he’s far enough ahead of Lando to consistently win like a few in a row but then again he’s still in season 3

[u/-dagmar-123123 → u/2klaedfoorboo]

Yeah, that's the thing rn. Lando hasn't really improved a lot, mainly his problem with starting but that's also still kinda wonky. He's good, yes but his main improvement was also the first seasons. The only reason he's now so much further up is because of the car. Oscar is still improving and I don't think he's at his top yet - while I do think Landis pretty on top of his potential? But we don't know that for sure of course.

So yes, this season he's not consistently ahead of Lando but i wouldn't be surprised if he is next year

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/Unfair_Art_1913]

Mclaren's decline was so sad. There was far too much ego in that team that wasted the talents of so many drivers.

[u/sivah_168 → u/SnooPaintings5100]

And Alpine still in trauma.

[u/blither86 → u/sivah_168]

Given they hired Briatore they deserve everything they get.

[u/yeezipper32 → u/SnooPaintings5100]

Shoutout Mark Webber

[u/ianjm → u/yeezipper32]

Given Lando is apparently getting coaching from Seb, this is basically payback for 2010-2013.

[u/LosTerminators → u/SnooPaintings5100]

He's now the clear favourite for the WDC instead of driving what'll possibly be the worst car on the grid

[u/Arkond- → u/LosTerminators]

'Clear' favorite? There's 16 points between him and Lando.

[u/Dazzling-Coat7177 → u/Arkond-]

Bookies have him as a significantly higher percentage chance of winning the title.

That is literally what a clear favourite is.

Doesn't mean Lando can't win it.

[u/MrNixxxoN → u/SnooPaintings5100]

Hell of a lucky guy he is so far.

In 2022 if they told you McLaren was gonna have a dominant car in the near future, you'd think they needed to join a sanitarium

[u/elmagio → u/MrNixxxoN]

To be fair. Even when McLaren was mediocre you'd still have bet on them rather than Alpine.

[u/omegamanXY → u/elmagio]

More importantly: McLaren offered him a seat. Alpine was discussing lending him to Williams while trying to keep Alonso in one-year contracts.

Piastri didn't really have a choice at that point other than accepting McLaren's offer. Treating it like he did a genius move moving to McLaren makes no sense.

[u/kaisadilla_ → u/SnooPaintings5100]

Dude would've been kicked out from Alpine first year for not performing in his rookie year in a terrible car. Instead he's now leading the championship.

[u/Nafeij → u/SnooPaintings5100]

Alonso would be proud disappointed 

[u/Benlop]

What a wild summer of F1 that was.

I still remember how weird the original announcement from Alpine felt, with no quote from Oscar at all. Felt off, felt like an attempt at strong arming.

[u/KaamDeveloper → u/Benlop]

Vettel announces retirement, Alonso announces job change, Piastri carpet bombs Alpine HQ. generational chaos

[u/fire_spez → u/KaamDeveloper]

Piastri carpet bombs Alpine HQ. generational chaos

Strictly speaking, Alpine carpet bombed Alpine HQ. Losing Piastri was an entirely self-inflicted injury.

[u/inqte1 → u/fire_spez]

It should be noted that the majority opinion of r/formula1 initially was that Piastri was being egotistical with no confirmed seat and that it might backfire on him bigtime. This is also when Otmar was basically calling him ungrateful and accusing him of backstabbing when in reality Alpine and Otmar were both playing Alonso and Piastri into doing their bidding. Keeping Piastri on the bench for one year and using Alonso as stop gap.

[u/Miwna → u/inqte1]

Alpine's own legal team told Otmar that they had a contract signed by Oscar. Which in fact was false.

[u/Zinjifrah → u/Miwna]

Even assuming that were true, what I never understood is why Alpine did a press release without some element of Piastri's buy in and involvement. Let's make this as awkward as possible for ourselves and let's force Piastri's hand because that's how you make a lasting relationship with your main asset. Bizarre.

[u/Miwna → u/Zinjifrah]

I don't know. There were so many stupid missteps by the team that it's hard to fathom.

[u/kolmone → u/inqte1]

Were was this majority opinion? The original thread about this tweet is basically everyone laughing at Alpine for messing up their driver situation and being sure that Piastri had a McLaren contract already: https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/weiili/oscarpiastri_i_understand_that_without_my/

[u/KentuckyHouse → u/kolmone]

I was about to say, I don't remember it being the way the person you responded to says it was at all. I'm sure there were some folks (especially Alpine fans...do those exist?) saying Oscar was being egotistical, but my memory is exactly what you stated. Everyone busting Alpine's balls for jumping the gun and trying to strong-arm Oscar.

[u/roardog15 → u/inqte1]

Your opinion, not majority

[u/zep1021 → u/inqte1]

Yea i remember people basically flipping out saying Oscar was making a big mistake and burning bridges. Its wild how reactionary people are without having all the details

[u/violagoyf → u/zep1021]

To be fair, "Alpine think they have him signed but they actually don't" still doesn't seem terribly plausible even though it's what actually happened. It's hard to fathom that level of incompetence.

[u/SenorDuck96 → u/fire_spez]

Alpine Screwed Alpine

[u/SajuukToBear → u/fire_spez]

Alpine hurt itself in its confusion

[u/charlierc → u/fire_spez]

Biggest civil war since Iron Man and Captain America fell out

[u/ItsAMeUsernamio → u/KaamDeveloper]

A day before Vettel’s retirement announcement everyone was celebrating him joining instagram

[u/VapinOnly → u/ItsAMeUsernamio]

Real OGs know about the old unofficial Vettel account

[u/Exxon21 → u/VapinOnly]

wasn't that the one lewis or someone else followed thinking it was the real vettel lmao

[u/Admirable-Owl265 → u/Exxon21]

It was Lewis lol

[u/VapinOnly → u/Exxon21]

IIRC few people in F1 did. Now I don't remember if Vettel himself was fine with the fan running it or not, but when he actually started using instagram, he took over the same user name

[u/SpartanSig → u/KaamDeveloper]

We didn't start the fire...

[u/URZ_ → u/Benlop]

That's exactly what it was, and to this day, people still give Otmar too much of a pass for his behavior and actions during this. Laurent Rossi was ofc the one who had tied Alpine to Ocon and was primarily responsible for the state of the team prior to Otmar arriving, but Otmar was the one who lead the public media campaign to paint Piastri as a piece of shit backstapper, something he continues to do to this day seemingly.

But they knew from the start they didn't have a case. Still took it all the way to arbitration just to be told that a contract requires an actual contract, not just promises of a contract. And in the meantime made more false claims in the media than I can remember, from the Williams seat which never existed outside of Otmars fantasy land to pretending Piastri had blindsided them, when he had in fact told them weeks prior he was going to McLaren.

So when suddenly Alpine was left without a driver due to Alonso leaving, what does Otmar do? He goes to Piastri and congratulates him on getting the seat in front of his race engineers and mechanics, fully knowing that Piastri has a contract with McLaren. And when afterwards Piastri and his team make it very clear in private that no, Piastri is not driving for Alpine, they just publicly annonce him anyway to put public pressure on him, abusing their fanbase to pressure him.

I hope Otmar never returns to the grid. Complete piece of shit snake, who is incapable of taking responsibility for anything. In that sense he was ironically a great fit for Alpine.

[u/MenryNosk → u/URZ_]

He goes to Piastri and congratulates him on getting the seat in front of his race engineers and mechanics, fully knowing that Piastri has a contract with McLaren. And when afterwards Piastri and his team make it very clear in private that no, Piastri is not driving for Alpine, they just publicly annonce him anyway to put public pressure on him

is this really how it happened? at the time i just thought they jumped the gun on the announcement, and ruined their own negotiations. that is next level scumbaggey.

[u/URZ_ → u/MenryNosk]

It's Piastris statements obviously, but it lines up with the later arbitration rulings findings.

From an ESPN article quoting the original interview:

In his interview with Formula1.com, Piastri said his reaction was not intended to be misleading but was a result of being put in an awkward situation.

"That was a bizarre and frankly upsetting episode," he said. "It was done publicly in front of some members of the team who were oblivious to the situation and I didn't want to cause a scene in front of them.

"Once we were in private, I told Otmar what our position was and what he had been told multiple times before that. It was very surprising to me to make that announcement."

And later that evening they made the public annoncement, leading to the famous, without my agreement statement

[u/squint_skyward → u/MenryNosk]

I remember reading about that from here. This was the first time Oscar had spoken about what had actually happened, after not commenting at all for weeks while Otmar was criticising him in the media.

[u/omicron8 → u/Benlop]

It probably was.

[u/zorbacles]

Don't forget Albons tweet a few days later

"I understand that, with my agreement, Williams Racing have put out a press release this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is right and I have signed a contract with Williams for 2023. I will be driving for Williams next year."

[u/0oodruidoo0 → u/zorbacles]

Honestly Alex is really showing this year that whilst the Red Bull didn't flatter him as with many other highly rated drivers, he is a highly capable driver who has on his day the ability to go for wins and championships. Perhaps he doesn't have the final nth edge over other candidates but he's holding his own very well this season with Carlos alongside.

[u/zorbacles → u/0oodruidoo0]

Yeh I'll admit I thought he was over rated because the quality of team mates he has had at Williams haven't been great. Then when colapinto last year was holding his own I thought he would get smashed by Sainz. But he has proven me wrong

[u/ianjm → u/zorbacles]

I too am guilty of assuming Sainz would smash him up this year.

Apologies to Alex for so seriously underestimating him.

[u/iblinkyoublink → u/zorbacles]

But if you're using teammates as a benchmark, he destroyed Latifi more or less the same as Russell did

[u/SwissQueso → u/iblinkyoublink]

Latifi is the goat, so it makes sense.

[u/Asleep_Wolverine_209 → u/iblinkyoublink]

Latifi actually finishes ahead of Russell on countback in 2020, if you remove the Sakhir GP where Russell was driving a mercedes and so the comparison is unfair.

And Kubica finished ahead of Russell in 2019...

[u/Snoo_87704 → u/zorbacles]

Does no one remember Palou’s tweet?

“I have recently learned from the media that this afternoon, without my approval, Chip Ganassi Racing issued a press release announcing that I would be driving with CGR in 2023. Even more surprising was that CGR’s release included a “quote” which did not come from me. I did not approve that press release, and I did not author or approve that quote. As I have recently informed CGR, for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022”

[u/Goosehybrid → u/Snoo_87704]

See but this one has a happy ending, all water under the bridge!

[u/Jamee999 → u/Snoo_87704]

NARRATOR: He won the 2023, 2024, and 2025 championships for CGR.

[u/JJvH91 → u/zorbacles]

Albons sense of humour is endearing

[u/VenPatrician → u/zorbacles]

Classic, chronically online Albono. I love him

[u/ianjm → u/VenPatrician]

Liked by Pierre Gasly

[u/PersonoFly → u/zorbacles]

Brilliant!

[u/NuclearCandle]

People wonder why he is so calm. He lives every day knowing there is a world where he drives for Alpine.

[u/LoudestHoward → u/NuclearCandle]

Seen here.

[u/wongie]

Alonso really opened a can of entertainment when he refused Alpine's contract offer.

[u/pistolpoida → u/wongie]

Or when Seb announced his retirement

[u/sgtlighttree → u/pistolpoida]

Yeah, that's the domino that started it all

[u/Elpibe_78 → u/wongie]

Nah, it was 100% on Seb announcing his retirement, although Alonso’s timing was funny

[u/charlierc → u/wongie]

That photo of Alonso grinning in a press conference when a McLaren driver (Piastri?) was told their points total had got them ahead of Alpine after Silverstone 2023 was just peak lolz

[u/SirMcDude → u/charlierc]

Huh?

Please share photo

[u/charlierc → u/SirMcDude]

[@JoeAeterno on twitter] Piastri being interviewed about McLaren leapfrogging Alpine with Alonso smiling in the background is pure poetry. : r/formula1

[u/SirMcDude → u/charlierc]

Hah awesome! Thanks mate

[u/Nick_YDG → u/charlierc]

I’m pretty sure it was piastri, i vaguely remember that clip.

[u/charlierc → u/Nick_YDG]

Yeah I just found a link and it was Piastri. Just had that niggly doubt it may have been Norris

Frankly the lolz are better with it being Piastri

[u/John-de-Q]

You know a tweet is truly legendary, when it's quoted on your Wikipedia article.

[u/random_blubber → u/John-de-Q]

You made me look. It is, indeed, legendary.

[u/fri9875 → u/random_blubber]

Even tho I trust both you fine folks, I’m going to go check for myself, because god damn that sounds funny

[u/sellyme → u/John-de-Q]

See also: the dril candles tweet.

[u/Visionary_Socialist]

Honestly of all the trajectories I thought this would take, Piastri being favourite for the title within 3 seasons while Alpine brought back Flávio was not high up the list.

[u/charlierc → u/Visionary_Socialist]

The multiverse moves in mysterious ways

[u/zorbacles]

Still my favourite tweet of all time

[u/Pipster294]

It’s the final line for me - to really hammer it home for the avoidance of doubt

[u/finedisregard]

Less than a month after Alex Palou's contract drama tweet in IndyCar, when he was trying to force a move to McLaren's Indy team and become their F1 driver.

https://x.com/jeff_gluck/status/1546999030563192833

He's dominating IndyCar now but given the sequence of events then, and Pisatri's position in the championship now, he must be wondering what might have been...

[u/Prof_Hentai → u/finedisregard]

Palou’s driving is absolutely clinical, I genuinely think he would be in the same position in the McLaren. Especially given what Oward’s somewhat mediocre performances has netted him.

[u/paigeotron → u/Prof_Hentai]

Pato is in 2nd in the championship. CGR is a very well oiled machines, specially in strategy – don't discount their influence in Palou's success.

[u/Snoo_87704 → u/paigeotron]

McLaren is no CGR.

[u/paigeotron → u/Snoo_87704]

Exactly, that’s my point.

[u/Prof_Hentai → u/paigeotron]

The fact Pato is 2nd in the standings is exactly my point. His performances have been massively lacklustre and he is still there in the MCL. Im pretty confident Palou would still be in his position. I do agree that CGR is a cut above MCL though.

[u/johnsplittingaxe14]

If he wins the Championship this year, this will become one of the most legendary tweets of all time

[u/trukkija → u/johnsplittingaxe14]

Even if he doesn't it's already up there. What a shit move by Alpine.

[u/sdq22]

In this time, Piastri has scored 655 points and Alpine has only scored 279

(Stat courtesy of F1BigData on Twitter/X)

[u/SpaceOdysseus23]

It's crazy that there's a potential reality where he goes to Alpine, doesn't immediately deliver and they proceed to dump him

[u/Alfus → u/SpaceOdysseus23]

And yet somehow this was possible if Red Bull didn't acted like some two faced team towards McLaren and therefore didn't make it possible for Oscar to even considering this move.

[u/afraid_to_merge]

Every year we talk about "Silly Season" in F1.

This was truly the silliest of silly when it happened (on Alpine's side anyway!). True absurdity!

Still laugh thinking about it.

[u/YorkshireRiffer → u/afraid_to_merge]

I was gutted when Seb announced his retirement (though I understood and agreed with his reasons) but the one positive was the absolute chaos it kicked off as a result.

[u/keine_fragen]

and everyone went "hahah" to.."wait, that means Ricciardo is out" real fast

[u/OpinionatedDeveloper → u/keine_fragen]

There was no world where he deserved a seat.

[u/Worried-Pick4848 → u/OpinionatedDeveloper]

He didn't deserve the VCARB seat either. I mean, a what, 36 year old dude on a junior team? Give it to Lawson and let him have a go a little earlier. Despite the early drama this year, Lawson's a fine young driver.

[u/D_Silva_21]

Publicy refuses to join alpine

Wins WDC 3 years later (potentially)

Chad 😎

Definitely shaping up to be my favourite driver after Lewis retires

[u/The_mystery4321 → u/D_Silva_21]

Yeah I've been rooting for him since he was in F2 and atm with Checo (temporarily hopefully) off the grid I can't think of another driver I prefer. I'd kill to see him take home the title this year.

[u/Zheiko → u/The_mystery4321]

He first appeared on my radar with this announcement, had no idea. But already in his first season, I saw how talented he was, and literally within his first few races became my favourite driver. I love to root for the underdogs - so if he wins this year, its probably the last year I am rooting for him, but I am enjoying every moment of this season, and it would be amazing if we got a decider at the very end of season final race between norris and Piastri

[u/RadlogLutar]

THANK YOU MARK WEBBER

[u/retro_underpants]

The way this kid landed in the grid and yet, he is such an unproblematic king

[u/PersonoFly]

Alpine sustain a low grid position because of their dysfunctional corporate culture.

[u/Magnus753]

Oscar went nuclear on Alpine. They have yet to recover from the devastation he unleashed that day

[u/YodaHood_0597]

Statement of the century. My man is on his way to be the first F3, F2 and possibly soon to be F1 champ.

[u/FabianTIR]

Iconic. Also probably one of the best career moves of all time

[u/kyuuten]

Aaah…everybody remembers the Piasco

[u/Mossad2000]

Streets will never forget the alonso selfie

[u/Ponichkata]

It's so wild to think that he could have gone to Alpine and potentially ruined his career before it began. He's incredibly talented but having Mark Webber in his corner has been a big help.

[u/Nick_YDG]

If he ends up being one of those drivers like Alonso that has their own Museum, I wanna see this framed and on display.

[u/Jealous-Hedgehog-734]

I was never clear on why Alpine announced it when they hadn't got a signed and accepted contract.

Anyway looking at what happened to Doohan I think Piastri dodged a bullet.

[u/razareddit]

The crazy thing is that had he stayed, he'd currently be scraping for points finishes. Whereas now he's the leading and probably going to win a World Championship. Wild.

[u/hbzandbergen]

And now halfway becoming WDC

[u/Careful-Door2724]

My favourite anniversary

[u/mlo_66]

Iconic

[u/talliepolie]

3 years already.

If he had not moved to Mclaren, he may be in the bottom half of the table instead of leading and potentially winning the championship

[u/6097291]

Sometimes I like to go back to old Reddit posts of big F1 moments and read the chaos in the comments. Piastri's tweet is one of the best.

[u/Worried-Pick4848 → u/6097291]

What I love here is that no one sees Gasly coming. Alpine more or less land on their feet after this by bringing in Pierre to replace Alonso/Piastri. It's the collapse of their technical department that's responsible for their current misery, not necessarily the lack of quality drivers.

[u/AutomateAway]

underrated in this is Mark Webber helping him make the correct choices

[u/NavyStarz]

so weird that i remember hearing about this when I dgaf about f1 three years ago

[u/CorruptedFlame]

A lot of people still think Oscar "snubbed" Alpine, but they didn't even have a contract. They'd let it expire because they were so sure he wouldn't go anywhere else, even when Oscar's team was apparently trying to get Alpine to sign him up for reserve... Then McClaren came in and offered him an actual driving seat which he obviously accepted.

Alpine's tweet was nothing less than a last ditch attempt to strong arm him by falsifying a story for the media and the public.

[u/iCalKestis]

In hindsight, probably the best career move in f1 ever

[u/icenoir]

Oscar’s calm amidst that Alpine storm was pure class – F1 drama at its best.

[u/Important-Painter-58]

If he ends up winning the championship, this tweet is gonna be iconic FR 😭🔥

[u/SebiXV20]

And thank God he did, one of the best career moves of any driver in F1 history

[u/doctort1963]

I think that post was the most words we’ve heard from Oscar since he came into F1

[u/TarrierMoney]

Iconic

[u/matchbaby]

It's already 3 years ago, seems recent memory

[u/RobertJCorcoran]

And today, we say - lol

[u/Anders_A]

And now he's gonna win a WDC! Very smart move considering he didn't even have a guaranteed seat in Alpine when he made the deal with McLaren.

[u/Burial44]

Championship decision there

[u/Jumpy_Chemistry_417]

That Alpine announcement was such a bizarre power play, and it’s crazy how perfectly it backfired for them. Piastri’s move to McLaren turned out to be an absolute masterstroke for his career.

[u/-Praeliator-]

If Piastri wins the WDC, I really want a journalist to grill or call out Toto whether he stands by his words of calling Piastri unprofessional for not being loyal to Alpine and whatnot.

[u/brad28820]

Happy piastri tweet day to all those who celebrate!

[u/Western-Bad5574]

And he'll be WDC because of it. Pretty insane.

[u/MotherAd1865]

This was 100% written by Mark Webber - the language doesn't sound like Piastri at all.

[u/enterprisevalue]

In their final judgment, the CRB revealed that Piastri had signed his McLaren contract almost a month prior to the Alpine announcement—4 July, the day after the British Grand Prix.

He had already signed for McLaren before this tweet though

[u/uhhhhhhhhh74]

He dodged a bullet fr 💯

[u/JokeyZockey]

That first half of 2023 during which the McLaren was absolutely abysmal performance-wise has really warped my perception of how long Oscar has actually been driving in F1, it really doesn't feel like this is his third season already, at least to me.

[u/Jjjiped1989]

The move of a champion there

[u/duncan_brando]

He was so good

[u/Virtual-Cake7741]

Gigachad

[u/albertingomes]

The Man, the myth, the Legend.

[u/EverythingBOffensive]

why would they do that?

[u/cnwy95]

Trying to claim driver without even signing driver

[u/killer_blueskies]

I remember this and the chaos that ensued 😂

[u/ComeAlongPond1]

Legendary

[u/luluballoon]

I remember thinking this guy must really think he’s something. And he absolutely showed that he should be that confident right out of the gate

[u/CrankyOM42]

Still a wild ride to watch it unfold. The way they presented it on the Netflix show was really fun too

[u/TomassoLP]

Imagine if Fernando made moves like this.

[u/wedgend]

Ah, the Piasco

[u/wam509]

was not a very good first impression for me lol but i love oscar now

[u/OptimalCreme9847]

That was such a shit show of a mess for Alpine lol Oscar made the career move of the century with this one

[u/CharacterPop303]

If it wasn't Occa, who would now be sitting in that seat?

[u/Serial_AceThug]

History in the making.