Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur has downplayed Oscar Piastri’s chances of suiting up for the Swiss team next year, suggesting the Australian will eventually get his chance with Alpine.
Piastri has impressed this season and currently leads the F2 championship, further establishing his reputation as one of the rising stars on the circuit after his F3 series win last year.
Ferarri star Charles Leclerc backed the Australian to make a name for himself once he does get his shot in the top tier and expressed disbelief as to why the 20-year-old Australian hasn’t secured a spot on an F1 team for 2022.
However, there’s only one spot left on the F1 grid for next year, with Alfa Romeo yet to announce the identity of Valtteri Bottas’ teammate. Piastri told Wide World of Sports recently that he’s not expecting to get the call up.
And Vasseur’s comments all but confirmed the Aussie’s admission and further added weight to the notion he will sign a test and reserve driver deal with Alpine for 2022, with a view to replacing double world champion Fernando Alonso in the race team in 2023.
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Favourite for the remaining seat for next year is Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou, despite being topped by Piastri in the standings in his rookie season in F2. Vasseur was under no illusion about Piastri’s talent and expects him to be scooped up by a rival F1 team.
The Alfa Romeo boss added that it would make little sense for Alpine to bring the Australian through their junior system and then release him to another team.
“Oscar is doing a very good job and was very consistent over the last few weekends, but as far as I know he is linked with Renault or Alpine,” said Vasseur.
“If you invest in a driver for all the junior series and have a long term program with him, I don’t see the point to let him go to another team, it would be strange,” he explained.
“He is doing a very, very strong job but it is crystal clear he is one of the best of the field today and he did a great job last year fighting until the last event,” he said.
“He is one of the young kids that will be successful in F1 for sure.”
While Alfa Romeo was expected to announce Bottas’ partner imminently, Vasseur confirmed the team has delayed the decision for now.
“We are not in a rush to take this decision,” he said. “We have a couple of options on the table and we have to take time to decide, but we are not in a rush.
“The situation won’t change over the next couple of days and we will take a decision soon.”
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