Australia’s Oscar Piastri will get his first official taste of Formula 1 next week when he takes part in the end-of-season Young Driver Test at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The recently signed Alpine F1 reserve driver will spend a day at the helm of Alpine’s A521 car, driven this season by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.
A proven race winner, Ocon drove the car to his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this year.
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Taking an enormous step towards cementing a spot at the pinnacle of global motorsport, Piastri was thrilled to be granted the test drive opportunity.
“I’m very excited to drive in the Young Driver Test,” he said.
“It’s almost like my first official day in my new job for next year when I become the team’s reserve driver.
“Any day in an F1 car is pretty special but to drive the current one with other drivers on track in a somewhat competitive environment is very cool.
“Thanks to the team for this opportunity, I’m certainly looking forward to it and working through a very full testing program on the day.”
Piastri is currently leading the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship, heading into the final round of the season at Abu Dhabi, with an almost unassailable 51.5-point lead over his PREMA Racing team-mate, Russian Robert Shwartzman.
Showing dominance over the field in his rookie F2 season, Piastri has taken five race victories – including two sprint races and the past three straight feature races – nine podiums, seven fastest lap honours, and the past four consecutive pole positions.
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was pleased to kick-start Piastri’s development in F1 through post-season testing.
“Oscar has had a fantastic Formula 2 season this year, again showing his class, and this Young Driver Test appearance is well earned,” he said.
“This test will be part of Oscar’s ongoing development as he prepares to become the team’s reserve driver for 2022, to aid and assist Fernando and Esteban and our development teams on and off the track.”
Alonso and Ocon will also take to the track for two days of Pirelli tyre testing as the duo trial the new 18″ Pirelli tyres .
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