Alpine has announced that its highly rated reserve driver, Oscar Piastri, will be promoted to a race seat next year, as a replacement for Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso.
Sebastian Vettel revealed on Thursday that he would retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season, sparking a chain reaction that saw his Aston Martin team announce the signing of Alonso to replace the German for next year .
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The surprise switch left an open seat at Alpine, and on Tuesday afternoon they announced that it would be filled by 21-year-old Australian Piastri, who is currently the team’s reserve driver and is the reigning Formula 1 champion 2, after winning the title in his rookie season.
A team statement announcing the news said: “As part of his F1 training journey, Oscar was first promoted to BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver at the start of the 2022 season and from ‘then he has been subjected to team management and its full financial support, an intensive training program and full private testing in the race-winning A521, the 2021 Alpine F1 car, support from race and simulator sessions to prepare you for the next big step in F1.
“Alpine is now looking forward to the next stage of his F1 career alongside Esteban Ocon.”
Team principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “Oscar is a brilliant and rare talent. We are proud to have nurtured and supported him through the difficult paths of junior formulas.
“Through our partnership over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver more than capable of making the step up to Formula 1.
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“As a reserve driver, he has been exposed to the team at the track, factory and testing where he has shown the maturity, promise and speed to secure his promotion to our second seat alongside Esteban.
“Together, we believe the duo will give us the continuity we need to achieve our long-term goal of challenging for wins and championships.”
