‘Didn't even ask': Oscar Piastri ‘bullying' drama erupts as McLaren chief goes on the offensive
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has sensationally claimed Oscar Piastri's former team Alpine bullied the Aussie phenom during the rival F1 team's contract stoush in 2022.
Three years ago Piastri's contract saga sent shockwaves through the F1 in what was somewhat of a sliding-doors moment for the 24-year-old. And his exit was messy, to say the least.
Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during racing. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
In 2022, the retirement of legendary driver Sebastian Vettel caused a frenzy on the F1 grid, with Fernando Alonso penning a deal with Aston Martin.
The day after Alonso's departure, Alpine revealed academy driver Piastri would replace him in the main team, joining France's Esteban Ocon the following season.
However, Piastri rocked the F1 world by tweeting later that day: 'I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 has released 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.'
Piastri agreed to join McLaren and that ignited a bitter contract battle between Alpine and
McLaren in front of the FIA's Contract Recognition Board.
Both teams argued they had signed the promising young driver, but in the end, the Contract Recognition Board ruled in McLaren's favour, and Alpine was ordered to pay the rival team's legal fees.
While Piastri went from a team that appeared to be a sinking ship to one on the up.
Fast forward three years from the messy contract split and McLaren and Piastri are who the entire grid is gunning for, but it hasn't stopped them from going on the offensive.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown this week tore into Alpine, accusing them of bullying Piastri and trying to strongarm him into staying after then-team principal Otmar Szafnauer dropped the ball.
'He (Szafnauer) got caught with his pants down. He claims that when he arrived Oscar was not tied down in the way he should have been and that it had nothing to do with him,' Brown said in an interview with Mail Sport this week.
'But when you come in you have to assess everything and fix it. Maybe he should have taken a look.
'Their press release saying Oscar would get the race seat in 2023 did not even contain a quote from him. They did not even ask him. They put the statement out as if it was a done deal. It was used to bully him into doing what they wanted.
'The CRB ordered them to pay our expenses, so that tells you what they made of the situation.'
Piastri is currently leading the F1 drivers' standings in only his third season on the main grid, having won three consecutive races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Miami.
He'll look to continue his dominant streak when the grid heads to Monza for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, May 18.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
How to watch Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final at Lords
Australia attempts to become the first team in history to win the World Test Championship twice tonight, defending the title they claimed in 2023. The Aussies have descended on Lords to stake on South Africa for the ICC crown. The first ball is set for 7:30pm AEST. How to watch The exclusive rights to ICC events now belong to Amazon Prime Video, thanks to a broadcast deal that runs from 2024 to 2027. The whole Test will be streamed live on Prime. Konstas out Sam Konstas and Scott Boland have been left out of Australia's XI for the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Australia are big favourites to secure a second mace against the Proteas as the WTC final gets underway on Wednesday night Australian time at Lord's, but picking the team hasn't been straightforward. Series wins over India and Sri Lanka have posed some selection dilemmas for Australia, with the emergence of Konstas, Boland's consistent wicket-taking and Cameron Green's return from injury creating no shortage of headaches for head selector George Bailey. Konstas famously turned the series against India on its head with his blistering half century at the Boxing Day Test, playing ramp shots to Jasprit Bumrah's bowling. The 19-year-old didn't play on the tour of Sri Lanka and now he has been made to bide his time again. Marnus to open Australia have opted to back in Marnus Labuschagne to open the batting as Usman Khawaja's partner at the top of the order, leaving Konstas out of the has been struggling for form at Test level and County Cricket, with his last Test century coming against England in July 2023. Australian captain Pat Cummins backed in Labuschagne to perform, explaining the batter's contribution over the WTC cycle played a part in his selection. 'I think it's part of the factor. He is a somewhat known quantity (and) our selectors are probably showing that they're happy to … give someone an extra little run rather than pull the pin too early,' Cummins said. South Africa sees a crack South Africa have seized on Australia's gamble to open with Labuschagne, declaring there's an 'opportunity' to expose the defending champions. He will be Usman Khawaja fifth opening partner since David Warner's retirement, while Cameron Green has been elevated to No. 3 in his Test match return. With a swinging Dukes ball in the hand of Proteas superstar quick Kagiso Rabada, South African captain Temba Bavuma was hoping to exploit the new-look Australian top three. 'I think there is an opportunity there,' Bavuma said when asked about Australia's opening situation. 'I think the conditions as well, I believe, bring us into the game a lot. With the swinging ball, (it's) very different to Australian conditions. Different to South African conditions as well, so that definitely gives us an opportunity.'
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Australian Tesla owners seeking compensation as phantom braking leaves drivers 'completely terrified'
When Dominic Yin bought his Tesla two years ago he didn't think he'd be taken for "a scary ride". A few months after his purchase, he was driving on the highway between Sydney and Melbourne when the car suddenly braked for no apparent reason. He told 7.30 a truck was behind him at the time. "The truck driver behind me pressed (his) horn and (gave me the finger), and I pointed to the car: 'It's not me, it's the car'". The issue is widely known as phantom braking and Mr Yin says it has happened to him numerous times. Some Tesla drivers have reported phantom braking while their car is in autopilot mode, which according to Tesla, "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane". It's not entirely autonomous driving, but you can take your foot off the accelerator while the car drives along at a set speed and slows down for other vehicles. Tesla advises drivers that they should keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. The company also maintains autopilot is designed to make driving safer, but in the US, Tesla has been sued over several deadly crashes in which the system was enabled. The Elon Musk run company has reportedly settled some of these cases but not admitted to any wrongdoing, citing driver error. Last month Tesla shared a video on social media showing an apparent test drive of its semi-autonomous system on Melbourne's streets, and said not even hook turns were a problem. Following a US consumer lawsuit over phantom braking, about 10,000 Tesla drivers in Australia have registered their interest in a class action against the company. The case began in the Federal Court last month, claiming that Australian consumers were misled over phantom braking, battery range and self-driving capability. "The issues that have been reported to us are that vehicles can be driving along on the highway at 100 or 110kph and all of a sudden the brakes are applied suddenly and without reason," class action lawyer, Rebecca Jancauskas told 7.30. "Drivers have reported feeling completely terrified when their vehicles have braked suddenly and it has led in some cases to collisions. "We've had many reports of people who registered for this class action, telling us that they've been driving with their hands on the vehicle, fully alert, and these issues have occurred nonetheless." 7.30 invited Tesla Australia to respond to the claims but it did not reply. The federal infrastructure department is responsible for road safety and told 7.30 it had received only six reports from consumers about braking problems with Teslas over two years. Peter Khoury from the NRMA said Tesla drivers should raise their concerns if they are subject to any phantom braking. "If you are experiencing this occurring in your vehicle, go to the manufacturer immediately because this can be a safety risk if it is occurring," he said. "If you're not satisfied with what the manufacturer has told you or done, you're not powerless in Australia. There is the capacity to notify the Australian government." The Australian class action is seeking compensation for Tesla drivers, claiming they have lost resale value given the problems. Mr Yin said there's "no way" he would have bought his Tesla had he been made aware by Tesla about phantom braking. He wants a full refund or for Tesla to fix the problem. "You're always wondering when (it's) going to happen next," he said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Cranbourne Racecourse to host the wake for the late Robbie Laing next Wednesday
Robbie Laing's family will hold a 'low-key' funeral but Jack Laing says his father's life will be celebrated in the trainer's own inimitable style at his Cranbourne stomping ground next week. Robbie Laing's death at the age of 66 last weekend stunned the Victorian racing industry as it came hours after the veteran horseman trained El Soleado into second placing in the final race of last Saturday's Flemington meeting. Jack Laing said he and some of his seven siblings were working through the process of transferring his father's racing and breeding stock. He said the industry and public's response to Robbie's death continued to amaze his family. 'The public response has been overwhelming,' Laing said. 'We knew it would be significant but even he would be surprised with how big it has been. It has just been massive.' Laing said his grandfather Eddie, who was also a successful trainer, suggested the family hold a small funeral for the gifted horseman. However, Laing said Cranbourne racecourse would be the scene of a huge celebration next Wednesday. ðŸ�† Roman Arch - 2006 Australian Cup ðŸ�† Polanski - 2013 Victoria Derby Robbie Laing’s final two Group 1 successes occurred at Flemington ðŸ�‡ðŸ�¼ He was a brilliant trainer & horseman & he will be missed by many in the racing industry 🕊ï¸� — (@Racing) June 8, 2025 • 'We're all devastated': Super stallion Snitzel dies 'As per Eddie's request, we're going to have a low-key funeral with just immediate family in Cranbourne,' Jack said. 'It's still going to be pretty big as Dad had a high offspring count with eight of us. 'We're going to have something low-key towards the end of this week. 'Then on Wednesday, all of his friends and compatriots in racing can say a few words, if they like, at a place where he trained hundreds of winners and won a Cranbourne Cup.' Laing said his stable would also have a fitting tribute to his late father at Sandown on the same day. The young trainer will run handy sprinter Speir in a 1000m race, which will be a fitting tribute as Robbie Laing bred the speedster and trained his sire Lord Of The Sky, who was one of the fastest horses in Australia during his racing career. Speir's rider will also don Robbie's black, red and white silks for the race. ðŸ�† Roman Arch - 2006 Australian Cup ðŸ�† Polanski - 2013 Victoria Derby Robbie Laing’s final two Group 1 successes occurred at Flemington ðŸ�‡ðŸ�¼ He was a brilliant trainer & horseman & he will be missed by many in the racing industry 🕊ï¸� — (@Racing) June 8, 2025 'If he's right, he'll just about win there and it would be awesome to have a winner while Dad has his wake,' Laing said. 'It will be the perfect send-off if a horse he bred wins.'
