Oscar Piastri expressed frustration with Alpine over Team Radio during the Austrian Grand Prix. The Australian was upset with the actions of both Alpine drivers at the race’s conclusion at the Red Bull Ring, where he finished second behind his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
While trying to catch Norris, Piastri was pushed onto the grass by Franco Colapinto while lapping the Alpine driver. Additionally, he lost time being held up by Pierre Gasly, who blocked him at turn 1 just two laps after almost colliding with Colapinto. Nearly three years ago, Piastri departed from Alpine amid a high-profile dispute involving social media clashes and contract issues.
Clearly alluding to that past conflict, Piastri vented his anger on Team Radio. Although the message was captured on his onboard camera and quickly went viral online, it was not aired during the live TV broadcast of the Grand Prix. Colapinto maintained that Piastri was in his “blind spot” during a battle with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, but the Argentinian driver still received a five-second penalty and penalty points for the incident.
What happened between Piastri and Alpine? After Fernando Alonso’s surprising move to Aston Martin for the 2023 season, Alpine announced Piastri as Alonso’s replacement via social media. However, Piastri denied signing a racing contract with Alpine, instead confirming a deal with McLaren. Alpine challenged this claim with the contract approval committee but ultimately lost.
Piastri went on to win the Constructors’ Championship with McLaren in 2024 and currently leads the driver standings. After 11 rounds of the 2025 F1 season, he holds a 15-point lead over teammate Norris.
Fan Take: This tense dynamic between Piastri and Alpine highlights the complex and sometimes dramatic off-track politics in Formula 1. For racing fans, it adds an extra layer of intrigue and rivalry, showing that battles are fought not just on the track but also behind the scenes, influencing the sport’s future.
