Oscar Piastri to Miss Hungarian GP Practice After Contract Dispute Escalates
McLaren's rookie driver, F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, will replace Oscar Piastri in the Hungarian Grand Prix's first practice session on Friday.
The change is part of a mandatory rookie driver session, as per F1 regulations, where teams must run a rookie twice in each car over the course of the season.
The practice session is usually a normal part of a weekend, allowing teams to give their young drivers a chance to gain experience. However, with tensions running high between McLaren and Piastri, it seems the Australian driver will be taking a backseat.
Piastri's contract dispute with McLaren has been ongoing for several weeks, and this decision is likely a result of the ongoing negotiations.
The 22-year-old driver has been in talks with Alpine, and it's unclear whether he'll be driving for the French team in the near future.
The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the last round before the customary F1 summer break, and teams are eager to make the most of the remaining sessions.
McLaren's decision to run Fornaroli instead of Piastri could be a strategic move to placate the Australian driver and give him more time to consider his options.
Meanwhile, four other teams will also use the first practice session to run a rookie. At Alpine, Paul Aron will replace Franco Colapinto, while Ryo Hirakawa will be in Ollie Bearman's car.
At Cadillac, former IndyCar star Colton Herta, a test driver, will replace Valtteri Bottas on Friday.
The teams are looking to give their young drivers valuable experience and exposure in the lead-up to the summer break.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is shaping up to be an interesting weekend, with several teams and drivers vying for position in the championship standings.
Source: Yahoo Sports