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Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.Credit:Getty Images

McLaren,who are fighting Alpine for fourth in the championship,have reportedly told Daniel Ricciardo he is being dropped for Piastri,last year’s Formula 2 champion.

Szafnauer said all the indications from their base in Paris were that Alpine were prepared for a legal battle once the sport’s August break was over.

“Going to the High Court is over 90 per cent certain that’s what we’ll do,” he added.

The American said he contacted Formula 1’s contract recognition board last week,but that avenue might not be sufficient.

“If the[board] says ‘your licence is only valid at Alpine’ and then he[Piastri] says ‘that’s great but I’m never driving for them,I’ll just sit out a year,’ then you’ve got to go to the High Court for compensation,” said Szafnauer.

There has been speculation that the two teams will ultimately come to an understanding in which race-winner Ricciardo could return to Alpine,his employers before McLaren.

HEAVY SPENDING

Alpine have spent heavily on preparing Piastri for Formula 1,with independent tests and thousands of kilometres in last year’s car including one at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin,Texas.

A Formula 1 power unit alone costs some €1.75 million (about $2.55 million) and there is also the expense of a dedicated test team of mechanics and engineers who need flights,cars and hotels.

“We haven’t sat down with the accountants to figure out everything we’ve spent. We will have to do that if we go to the High Court,” said Szafnauer.

He said Piastri had signed a heads of terms agreement with Alpine in November last year,which set out the path to a 2023 race debut.

The deal included the possibility of being loaned to another team for a year.

The legal argument will likely revolve around potential loopholes.

Piastri had looked set for a year at tailenders Williams beforeAlonso,seemingly close to an extension at Alpine,suddenly announced he was joining Aston Martin and sent the driver market into a spin.

Szafnauer said he understood Alonso’s reasoning,with the money and length of contract likely key factors for the 41-year-old Spaniard,but had expected Piastri to show integrity and loyalty.

Reuters

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