In a dramatic turn of events, Alpine has confirmed that Oscar Piastri will be the Formula 1 Driver from the 2023 season. Last week, Sebastien Vettel had announced his decision to retire from Formula One at the end of the season. Few days later, Team Aston Martin announced Fernando Alonso, as replacement for the German driver.
However, on Tuesday (2 August), Alpine announced that the 21-year-old Australian Piastri will fill the boots of Alonso. Piastri is the reigning Formula 2 champion and lifted the title in his rookie season. He also secured three championship titles from 2019 to 2021.
Alpine put up an official statement and revealed that the reserve driver was getting financial support and had been put under comprehensive training since the start of the 2022 season.
"As part of his formative F1 journey, Oscar was first promoted to BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver at the start of the 2022 season and has since been undergoing, under the Team’s guidance and its full financial support, an intensive and comprehensive training programme of private tests in the race-winning A521, the 2021 Alpine F1 car, race support and simulator sessions to prepare him for the next big step into F1,” a statement from Alpine read.
"Alpine now looks forward to seeing the next stage in his F1 career alongside Esteban Ocon," the statement added.
Bright and Rare Talent: Otmar Szafnauer
Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer has reckoned that Piastri has developed into a mature driver and is hopeful of his great run from the 2023 season.
“Oscar is a bright and rare talent. We are proud to have nurtured and supported him through the difficult pathways of the junior formulae," said Otmar.
"Through our collaboration over the past four years, we have seen him develop and mature into a driver who is more than capable of taking the step up to Formula 1," he added.