Formula 1: This is what the paddock in Spa-Francorchamps is talking about

The youngest alternating theater in Formula 1 also provides some topics of conversation before the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky). The movements in the driver’s market have produced some losers.

Separation:

The otherwise cheerful Daniel Ricciardo is not having an easy time right now. At the end of the season, the Australian has to vacate his cockpit early at McLaren, it just didn’t fit. And now? “I don’t just want to be there to fill the field,” said the 33-year-old. A return to Alpine is considered an option, but Ricciardo can also envisage a break. “If the stars aren’t right and it’s the right thing, I’m ready for it,” he said. On the other hand, he ruled out a change to another series.

Fight:

Oscar Piastri had made a fool of the Alpine team at the start of the holidays. The racing team already named the Australian as Fernando Alonso’s successor, but the 21-year-old publicly objected and turned down the place. Instead, the top talent should agree with McLaren and replace Ricciardo there. Alpine, however, insists that the contract is valid. Now the arbitration board set up in 1992 for contractual disputes in motorsport has to make a decision. The three lawyers will begin their hearings next week and will then decide who holds the rights to Piastri.

relationship crisis:

Old master Fernando Alonso can’t get rid of the reputation of the stinky boot in the paddock. With his move from Alpine to Aston Martin for the new season, the Spaniard caught his current team boss Otmar Szafnauer completely cold. Unmoved, Alonso said in Spa that he had informed the management of the parent company Renault and all its engineers and mechanics before the announcement. Only Szafnauer he did not contact. After all, he didn’t negotiate a new contract with him, the 41-year-old explained. What does that say about the relationship of trust between the two?