Alpine open to a loan from Oscar Piastri on condition that he remains under contract with the French team

Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso et Oscar piastri. If many teams would like to be able to boast of having these three drivers, for Alpine it has become a headache. On the one hand, the two titular pilots in Formula 1 (Esteban Ocon under contract until 2024 and Fernando Alonso until 2022) meet the expectations of the French team. On the other hand, Oscar Piastri is condemned to chomping at the bit with his status as reserve driver.

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To continue his rise, the champion of Formula 2 needs to find a seat in Formula 1. But the veteran of the discipline has not yet expressed his wish to stop at the end of the season. The Spaniard is currently in discussions with the Blues to extend his contract. “ Fernando, his contract ends this year, so we are obviously talking to him, explains Laurent Red, the CEO ofAlpine. We establish scenarios for Oscar and him. The idea is that they are both worthy drivers and we would love to see them racing next year. » But if he wants to turn his wish into reality, Laurent Rossi will have to accept seeing Oscar Piastri evolve in another seat in 2023.

Williams in pole position to recover Oscar Piastri? 

This is good, it is one of the scenarios envisaged by the French team which would be “ very plausible, very reasonable, and we imagine it would satisfy both pilots », specified the general director ofAlpine. But before seeing Oscar Piastri leave the ranks ofAlpine, Laurent Rossi wants to ensure the conditions of the agreement. “ I would be open to loaning Oscar to a team as long as I get him back, says the CEO ofAlpine. We have invested heavily in Oscar, we believe in him, that's why he is our reserve driver. He is a very promising talent, we would love to unlock his potential within the team. A loan, like many other drivers, where he starts in a team to train before returning to us, that would be a good scenario. »

The option Williams then seems to be the most likely for the Formula 2 champion. A choice which had previously been opted for by Mercedes with George Russell before aligning him alongside Lewis Hamilton. This would finally allow the Australian to complete a season in Formula 1 and stop watching it from behind the wall.Alpine. The Grove-based team in any case seems to be open to this proposal. “  I think if it was the best solution for us, then we would consider it. If this is not the best, if we have another better solution, we will opt for this one “, says Williams team principal Jost Capito. Oscar Piastri could then come and replace Nicholas latifi ou Alexander albon, both at the end of their contract. Unless the performance of Logan sargeant, poleman at Le Castellet in Formula 2 give Williams other ideas.

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