Piastri refutes team announcement: I won't be driving for Alpine next year

Oscar Piastri tweeted a contradictory statement just hours after Alpine sent a press release saying the Australian driver would fill two-time champion Fernando Alonso's vacancy for the 2023 Formula 1 season.

"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," the current F2 champion said. "This is wrong, and I have not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023. I will not be driving for Alpine next year."

Piastri currently serves as the French team's reserve driver.

Alpine was surprised when 41-year-old Alonso suddenly announced he would leave the team next season to join Aston Martin, taking over the seat four-time champion Sebastian Vettel left when he retired.

"Oscar is a bright and rare talent," team principal Otmar Szafnauer - who used to run Aston Martin but joined Alpine this year - said in the press release. "Through our collaboration over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver who is more than capable of taking the step up to Formula 1."

Alpine also noted that Piastri has been going through "intensive and comprehensive training" to prepare to join the F1 team next year.

It's unclear if the 21-year-old has another separate deal with a different F1 team.

Esteban Ocon is still the only committed driver for the 2023 season.