As the Formula 1 paddock gears up for the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Oscar Piastri has provided his perspective on the viral Alpine radio message that had social media buzzing following last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The message, in which Piastri quipped “Alpine still managed to find a way to f*ck me over all these years later,” offered a wry nod to his complicated history with the Enstone-based team.
The remark referenced the highly publicised 2022 saga when, following Fernando Alonso’s decision to leave Alpine for Aston Martin, Alpine hastily announced Piastri as their new driver.
The Australian, however, swiftly rebutted the team’s claim with a now-famous tweet: “I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them next year. This is wrong and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Looking back at last weekend’s race, Piastri clarified that his message was little more than a lighthearted jab, sparked by a run of on-track misfortune involving both Alpine cars.
“It was just a kind of coincidence that qualifying was obviously an Alpine and then I kind of got impeded by both in the race to an extent, so it was more just a coincidence,” Piastri told the press, including Total-Motorsport.com, at Silverstone.
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“But no, I’ve not really thought about it much recently. Obviously, when I joined Formula 1, it was kind of the comparisons and the directions that each team has taken. But now, I honestly haven’t thought about it for over 12 months probably.”
From frustration to the front of the grid
The weekend in Austria was not without its challenges for the McLaren driver. During the final laps, Piastri found himself pushed off the track by rookie Franco Colapinto, who was engaged in a wheel-to-wheel scrap with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda. Not long after, Piastri was further hampered by Pierre Gasly, who blocked his progress and added to a string of frustrations.
Despite these setbacks, Piastri’s trajectory in Formula 1 has been on a steep upward curve since joining McLaren. The team has enjoyed a resurgence in form, taking the lead in the constructors’ standings and positioning Piastri at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Heading into Silverstone, the Australian holds a 15-point advantage over his team-mate Lando Norris, and his focus is firmly set on maintaining momentum through the second half of the season.
With Silverstone looming and the spotlight on McLaren’s championship fight, Piastri’s radio message serves as a reminder of just how much can change in a short time in Formula 1—and how a bit of humor can diffuse even the longest-running narratives.
