Daniel Ricciardo 'to be paid off' as McLaren agree deal for new Lando Norris team-mate

Piastri looks set to partner Norris in the youngest driver line-up on the grid after the 2021 Formula 2 champion refuted suggestions he would be racing for his current team Alpine next year.

Just hours after the Enstone team released a statement confirming he would replace Fernando Alonso – who is joining Aston Martin – the young Australian reserve driver stunned F1 into silence by claiming he had not signed a deal with his team.

“This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year,” Piastri tweeted on Monday.

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer claims that their contract agreement is “watertight” with Piastri and it is feasible that it could take a legal battle to resolve the issue before the start of next season.

source: express.co.uk