Flavio Briatore’s “handwriting” is all over the Oscar Piastri affair. “The way I grew up, if I sign something, no one needs to say ‘you’re lying, because you signed this’. As far as Danner is concerned, “This whole situation has Briatore’s handwriting all over it”. Danner says it’s a clear sign that Briatore sees in Australian Piastri a level of potential on par with Alonso and Michael Schumacher. “I can imagine Piastri freeing himself from Alpine’s grip so he can drive for McLaren for two years and then be free for the big one. He also thinks Piastri will not be fazed about the level of intrigue surrounding his Formula 1 debut, with Szafnauer already furious about the disloyalty.

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