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Oscar Piastri secures seat with Alpine F1 Team as a reserve driver from 2022

Rebecca WilliamsHerald Sun
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

Mark Webber has warned Australian young gun Oscar Piastri will be “dangerous for lots of guys on the grid” next year when his rising protege makes his move towards an F1 race seat.

In what nine-time Grand Prix winner Webber described as a “ginormous step forward” for Piastri’s goal of a position on the F1 grid in 2023, the Formula 2 championship leader has landed a reserve driver role for the Alpine F1 team next year.

After dominating the junior categories on the stepladder to F1, Piastri will become Alpine’s test driver and back-up for Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.

Webber, who manages Piastri, expected the 20-year-old to confirm to Alpine it had secured an “absolute cracker in him” when he graduates from its Academy.

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The former Red Bull star said Piastri was ready for a full-time move into F1 now if it had it not been for limited opportunities on the grid for next year.

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But he said Piastri would be threatening lurking as a reserve driver in 2022 in a year in which F1’s new regulations come into play.

“I think he is ready now but the opportunities were not quite there,” Webber said.

“Formula One can sometimes be extremely tricky. We saw Fernando Alonso have a year out when he was ready, sometimes it’s the cycle of the seats and how it works.

“We are seeing at the moment a pretty heavy commercial phase and sometimes that’s lighter or bigger in terms of the grid make-up … at the moment it’s weighted pretty heavy for drivers that are commercially in a position to make a difference to get some seats.

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Camera IconAustralian Oscar Piastri will become Alpine F1 Team’s reserve driver in 2022. Credit: Supplied

ALREADY ON TRACK

Alpine has already started to transition Piastri into his new role and he will join the team at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend before he aims to seal the F2 crown in the last two rounds.

Webber said Piastri’s loyalties were with Alpine - for whom he has been an Academy member since 2020 - as he chased an F1 seat but the young gun’s team would keep its “eyes open” for any opportunities that presented for him to secure a place on the grid.

Two-time world champion Alonso, who turns 41 next year, is contracted until the end of next year with Alpine while his French teammate Ocon is tied up until the end of 2024.

“Alpine are in a good position, they have obviously got a world champion there in Fernando and contracts in sport are very important to have but performance is pivotal as well,” Webber said.

“Obviously Fernando is never short of that, depending on motivation levels.

“Alpine is certainly where Oscar’s loyalties are and they have believed in him from a young age and they really enjoy working with him so to capitalise on the final move would be nice one day.

“But this sport, there is going to be a lot happen next year, and between Alpine and all of us we have got our eyes open for any opportunities that might come up for Oscar.

“We have to be eyes wide open and ready to go and have him on the grid in whatever fashion that is.”

Australian F1 legend Mark Webber has been managing Oscar Piastri .
Camera IconAustralian F1 legend Mark Webber has been managing Oscar Piastri . Credit: Supplied

LIVING THE DREAM

Webber said it would have been an “absolute dream” for Piastri to have secured an F1 seat next year but was confident his charge’s Alpine route would deliver for him.

“There has been one seat available this year, one guy has gone up (from F2, China’s Guanyu Zhou to Alfa Romeo) and we know the level of finance that has been around that,” Webber said.

“Timing in sport is crucial as we know and I think we are just looking at the positives out of his season now and what we have with Alpine because there are no real negatives in all this.

“I think that long-term what we wash out is that this is going to be the right move for Oscar.

“It’s a ginormous step forward on the journey to his final destination.”

SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE

Young gun Oscar Piastri has secured a move into Formula One ranks as a reserve driver for Alpine next year, moving Australia closer to two full-time drivers in F1.

In a major step towards Piastri’s goal of joining countryman Daniel Ricciardo on the F1 grid, the Formula 2 championship leader will become the Alpine F1 team’s test driver and back-up for Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.

Piastri’s graduation could open the door for an F1 seat with the French squad in 2023 as a potential replacement for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso if the 40-year-old does not continue beyond the end of 2022 when he is out of contract. Ocon is signed until the end of 2024.

There was only one remaining seat on the F1 grid for next year at Alfa Romeo but it is expected to go to Piastri’s F2 rival Guanyu Zhou from China, who reportedly has significant financial backing.

Alpine chief executive officer Laurent Rossi said Piastri possessed raw talent and the team would prepare him for when an F1 “opportunity comes”.

The team said Piastri would undergo an extensive testing program in his reserve driver role.

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Camera IconAustralia’s Oscar Piastri celebrates on the podium Credit: Supplied

Piastri said he was “super excited” to take another step towards his F1 dream.

“I’m looking forward to being much more involved with the team and contributing to its intended success next season,” said Piastri, who is managed by former Red Bull star Mark Webber.

“The reserve driver role is the next step towards my aim for a race seat in 2023, which is very exciting.

“I’ve proved myself in the junior formulas over the last couple of years and feel like I’m ready for Formula 1 now along with the trackside experience at race weekends, we will put together a substantial test program in order to keep developing myself to grow even more prepared for a race seat.

“I’m very thankful to Alpine for their support. We’ve enjoyed two very successful seasons together in the Academy and I’m grateful for the faith they’ve put in me for this next step with an eye on a bigger future.”

Piastri has been a stand out on the stepladder to F1, winning last year’s F3 championship in his rookie year.

He has shown eye-catching form in this year’s F2 season with three wins, seven podiums and three pole positions, which he secured at three consecutive races.

With two rounds to go in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, Piastri holds a 36-point lead in this year’s F2 championship ahead of Zhou.

If Piastri can secure this year’s F2 title, he will join the Mercedes-bound George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as the drivers to have won back-to-back F3 (GP3) and F2 titles as rookies.

Rossi said Piastri, who joined the Alpine Academy in 2020 after winning the Formula Renault Eurocup title in 2019, had been standout.

“Oscar’s natural talent is clear to see; so we’re very proud and privileged to have him as part of our team as our reserve driver from next year,” Rossi said.

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“Not only does Oscar have the on-track skills, as demonstrated over the last couple of years in the junior categories, but also the maturity and composure that makes him really stand out from the rest.

“The next step will be to consistently attend Grands Prix to fully integrate with the race team, learn what is expected of an F1 driver and be ready for when the opportunity comes.

“In addition, we look forward to having Oscar’s input and expertise in driving the team forwards next year.”

Piastri said he was now focused on a strong finish to the F2 championship with Prema Racing when he is back on track on December 3.

“I’m looking forward to being back in the car and pushing hard on track,” Piastri said.

ENDS

rebecca.williams@news.com.au

Originally published as Oscar Piastri secures seat with Alpine F1 Team as a reserve driver from 2022

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