Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer says he’s open to a Daniel Ricciardo return amid the uncertainty surrounding the Australian’s future.
Alpine announced that fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri would take Fernando Alonso’s spot next year, after the Spaniard moved to Aston Martin for 2023.
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However that resulted in Piastri denying on social media that a deal had been made, rejecting a move up with the team formerly known as Renault: “I will not be driving for Alpine next year.”
That has sent the rumor mill into overdrive that Piastri will join McLaren next year, even though Ricciardo has a third year to run on his contract with the English team.
Should a McLaren move materialize for Piastri, it would leave Ricciardo without a seat for 2023.
Szafnauer told motorsport.com.au the team has spoken with several drivers but didn’t rule out a return for Ricciardo, referencing Alonso’s career, which includes two stints at McLaren, and three at Alpine-Renault.
“I mean, if you look at Fernando, for example, he comes and goes, and I think that happens to other drivers too,” he told the publication.
“And I don’t think that’s an issue at all. I think what we need to focus on is, like I say, the plans that we have for the next 89-88 races.
“We’ve got to make sure that we complement that plan with the best driver that we can, and there are some options out there for us. And we put the best driver in next to Esteban [Ocon]so that we can move forward towards what we’ve been planning.”
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