Oscar Piastri showcased his quick wit and racing prowess during the Austrian Grand Prix, narrowly avoiding a bizarre accident with his former team, Alpine. The incident occurred on Lap 55 as Piastri attempted to overtake traffic out of Turn 3. Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine and battling Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda, failed to see Piastri approaching, forcing the Australian onto the grass.

Piastri, who left Alpine's junior ranks to join McLaren three years ago, expressed his frustration in an unbroadcasted radio message: "Alpine still manages to find a way to f--- me over all these years later, huh." Despite the close call, Piastri finished second behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris, reducing his title advantage to 15 points.

Piastri's journey to becoming a title favorite has been anything but conventional. He joined the Renault (later Alpine) academy in January 2020 and was announced as one of their Formula 1 drivers for the 2023 season in July 2022. However, Piastri denied signing a contract, which was later confirmed by the FIA's contract recognition board, and instead joined McLaren. He cited a breakdown in trust with Alpine and described his treatment by Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer as "bizarre and upsetting."

Colapinto received a five-second time penalty and a penalty point for the incident. "I just didn't see him," Colapinto said. "He was in my blind spot and I was focused on Tsunoda. I really wanted to get past."

Piastri's resilience and humor continue to endear him to fans as he remains a strong contender in the Formula 1 championship.