Minichamps 1:43 McLaren MCL60 – Oscar Piastri, Bahrain GP 2023 Art. 537234381

A 1:43 model of the McLaren MCL60 as raced by Oscar Piastri at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix — his first race in Formula One. Limited to 432 pieces. Resin, on a display base in a clear case.

He announced on social media that he would not be driving for the team that had announced him

In August 2022 Alpine issued a press release confirming Oscar Piastri as its driver for 2023. It was a routine announcement about a young driver the team had funded for years.

Two hours later Piastri posted that the release had gone out without his agreement, that he had not signed with Alpine, and that he would not be driving for them.

Formula One had not seen anything quite like it. Alpine took the matter to the Contract Recognition Board, the sport's private tribunal for exactly this dispute; the board found for Piastri, and he went to McLaren.

The background is that he had been Alpine's reserve for a full season after winning Formula 3 and Formula 2 in consecutive rookie years — a record only Charles Leclerc shares — and had watched the team give the seat he wanted to someone else. When Fernando Alonso left for Aston Martin, Alpine assumed Piastri would simply take the vacancy. He had already signed elsewhere.

Bahrain 2023

This car is the one he first drove in anger. He retired from the race, which is an unglamorous way to begin, and finished the season ninth with a sprint win in Qatar.

First-race models hold their interest in a way mid-season ones do not. There is only ever one of them per driver.

Specifications

Scale: 1:43 · Limited to 432 pieces · Resin · Display base and clear case · Age: 14+