An excellent start to the 2025 F1 season sees 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri leading the championship and viewed as the title favourite, but his career trajectory could have l꧒ooked very different.

Piastri claimed his fourth win from six races - and third consecutive victory - with another clinical drive at the Miami Grand Prix to extend his advantage at the top of the championship to 16 points over McLaren teammate168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Lando Norris.

The 24-🐠year-old Australian now has six 🍸career wins with a McLaren team emerging from the winter in a dominant position having triumphed to a first constructors’ crown since 1998 last year.

But had e🌄vents played out differently, Piastri could have made his F1 debut elseဣwhere.

Oscar Piastri-Alpine saga explained

A contract saga took place over the summer of 2022 when Piastri, then Alpine’s reserve driver after winning back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2, was announced as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso’s replacement following the two-time world champi🌜on’s shock decision to quit and join rivals Aston Martin.

Piastri appe♑ared to be set for an F1 promotion with Alꦿpine in 2023 but issued a remarkable statement on social media that went viral.

"I understand that, without my agreement, Alpine F1 have put out a press release late this afternoon that I am driving for them n🌸ext year," he said. "This is wrong and I have not signed a contract wi🥃th Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”

McLaren and Alpine's legal battle 

A 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:messy tug-of-war for Piastri’s services then ensued bet🉐ween McLaren and Alpine in a matter which went b🅠efore F1’s Contract Recognition Board.

Alpine racked up over £500,000 in lega♕l fees and ultimately missed out on Piastri, who turned his back on the team that helped steer his career since he joined their driver academy in 2020 in favour of a move to McLaren.

Prior to Alonso’s exit taking Alpine by surprise, the team had plaꦜnned for Piastri to be loaned out to Williams in 2023 for potentially up to two seasons, before returning to A🗹lpine for 2025 on a firm two-year deal.

But Piastri and his 🌳manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, decided it would be best to start looking at alternative options.

This is when McLaren entered the picture. Piastri and McLaren began positive negotiations and he was ultimately chosen to replace the underperforming 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo and partner Norris for 2023.

Two seasons later, after some rapid progression and impres♎sive displays in F1, Piastri is now regarded as one of the hottest prospects on the grid and finds himself in his first-ever title fight.

Considering Alpine’s competitive fortunes in recent years and the turbulence that continues to surround the team following a 168澳洲幸运♊5官方开奖结果历史:bombsh♔ell resignation and driver mess, it is clear Piastri dodged a bullet byꦗ taking the path he did.