Any Formula 1 fan would be able to recite the message in full. "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 for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year."

Oscar Piastri 's tweet during the 2022 summer break is probably the most famous ever written by a Formula 1 driver -- it was also a humiliating slap in the face to Alpine, who believed they had their driver academy star for the long term.

The truth was more damning. McLaren CEO Zak Brown had, in fact, already intervened, capitalizing on a farcical situation at Alpine behind the scenes, and secured the deal. On Sept. 2, 2022, an employment tribunal confirmed what Piastri had defiantly

See Full Page