“I just wish Oscar would have remembered what he signed in November and what he signed up to.”

Piastri’s management has been contacted for comment.

The opportunity came when two-time world champion Fernando Alonso shocked Alpine by signing with Aston Martin after only being offered a one-year contract.

Piastri is considered a once-in-a-generation talent after matching the feats of F1 stars Charles Leclerc and George Russell by winning the junior classes in consecutive years.

British team McLaren have remained quiet so far on the tantalising prospect of Piastri replacing Ricciardo,but an announcement is expected soon.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said on Wednesday that the team was sure about its next move following the Ricciardo announcement.

“We are obviously very confident in our future,which we will announce in due course,” he said.

Pressed about McLaren’s line-up for 2023,he would only joke:“It’ll definitely be confirmed before the first race of next year.”

Neither would McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl give anything away when asked about the possibility of a rookie like Piastri,who’s yet to race in F1 despite a glittering junior career,replacing an eight-time race winner like Ricciardo.

Brown took a swipe at Szafnauer in response to the Alpine boss’ comments about Piastri,for Szafnauer’s role in the controversial Racing Point car in 2020,with the team penalised after for running illegal parts that copied Mercedes.

“Judging by recent times and the way Fernando caught Otmar by surprise – and not too long ago he was 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 of ethics,” Brown said.

With Reuters