The FIA Contract Recognition Board (CRB) is a body set up by motorsports governing body, the FIA, to determine the legality of driver

contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

s and to settle disputes between

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

teams over such contracts. The CRB meets in Geneva, Switzerland and is made up of independent lawyers who are considered to be suitably experienced in the law of contract. It aims to decide disputes in a few days, rather than the extended periods a court of law would take. The CRB was formed after Michael Schumacher signed to drive for Benetton in , despite having agreed to discuss a contract with

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

Jenson Button (2004)

In August 2004,

Jenson Button Jenson Alexander Lyons Button (born 19 January 1980) is a British racing driver. He won the 2009 Formula One World Championship when he drove for the Brawn GP team. After his F1 career, he became champion of the 2018 season of the Super GT ...

signed a contract with Williams even though he had a valid contract with

BAR Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

. The CRB ruled in BAR's favour on 20 October that year and Button remained with the team. Although not a strict CRB decision, Button signed a contract with Williams to drive with them in 2006, but then later felt he would be better placed at BAR to get his maiden win. Although Frank Williams determined the contract to be watertight, he later settled with Button for £18m not to take his option at Williams.

Timo Glock (2007)

During November 2007,

Timo Glock Timo Glock (born 18 March 1982) is a German professional racing driver, and BMW Motorsport works driver. He raced in Formula One for the Jordan, Toyota, Virgin Racing and Marussia F1 teams. He finished 10th in the Drivers' Championship in both ...

signed a contract with

Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...

for the 2008 season but BMW Sauber also claimed to have a valid contract for 2008. The CRB ruled in favour of Toyota who then subsequently announced Glock as a driver.

Oscar Piastri (2022)

Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri (born 6 April 2001) is an Australian racing driver who previously served as the reserve driver for Alpine F1 Team, having previously been in the team's driver academy. He won the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup with R-ace GP, and won ...

was signed to the

Renault Sport Academy The Alpine Academy – formerly known as the RF1 Driver Programme, Renault Driver Development and Renault Sport Academy – is a program to support young racing drivers through their careers. The programme was created by Renault F1 in 2002. In ...

in 2020 as part of their Driver Development Program, which included racing in FIA Formula 3,

FIA Formula 2 The FIA Formula 2 Championship is a second-tier single-seater championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Held on racing circuits, the championship was introduced in 2017, following the rebranding of the lo ...

and testing in

. When

Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Díaz (; born 29 July 1981) is a Spanish racing driver currently competing for Alpine in Formula One. He won the series' World Drivers' Championship in and with Renault, and has also driven for McLaren, Ferrari, and Mi ...

signed for

Aston Martin Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is an English manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated with ...

for the

2023 season 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...

Alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...

quickly announced Piastri's promotion to a racing seat. However, Piastri quickly rebuffed Alpine's announcement by claiming he never signed a contract to race with the team. The CRB met on 29 August 2022 to determine whether Piastri is contracted to Alpine, or if he is free to join a different team for 2023. On 2 September, during the

2022 Dutch Grand Prix The 2022 Dutch Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2022) was a Formula One motor race held on 4 September 2022 at the Circuit Zandvoort in Zandvoort, the Netherlands. The race was won by defending winner Max V ...

weekend, the CRB made a ruling against Alpine, recognising the contract between Piastri and McLaren signed on 4 July 2022 for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

McLaren McLaren Racing Limited is a British motor racing team based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England. McLaren is best known as a Formula One constructor, the second oldest active team, and the second most successful Formul ...

announced Piastri's signing shortly after the CRB's decision.

References

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile {{f1-stub