Piastri prepared to sit out F1 2022, targeting 2023 race seat
Oscar Piastri says he would be prepared to spend 2022 on the sidelines without a Formula 1 seat, but would have “serious discussions” if it looked set to be longer.
The FIA Formula 2 championship leader, who is a member of the Alpine Academy, is currently without a seat for next year if he clinches the F2 title.
With only one F1 seat available at Alfa Romeo, which Piastri says he is “not very confident about,” the Australian is instead focusing his attention on securing the Alpine reserve driver role for next season.
But he says if he was forced to spend more than one year out of a race environment, there would be “some serious discussions about what I do moving forward.”
PLUS: How F2's biggest talent could be forced to spend 2022 on the bench
Speaking to Autosport, Piastri said: “Looking forward, that Alfa seat, I'm not very confident about that.
“Realistically, the most logical pathway is to try and be reserve driver for Alpine for next year and put in a lot of hours in the sim and really working with the team to try and get a 2023 seat.
“I'd be okay with spending one year on the sidelines I think. Obviously, it's still not ideal, but it's happened to quite a lot of drivers out there.
“That one I can accept, but if it was looking like more than one year out, then there’d some serious discussions about what I do moving forward.
“The aim would definitely be to try and be reserve driver at Alpine and then target a 2023 season. Given how the cards have been played this year, I think that's the most realistic target now.”
Oscar Piastri, Prema Racing, 1st position, with his trophy
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The F2 rookie, who took pole for the Sochi feature race on Friday, says part of the problem stems from him exceeding both his own expectations and those of Alpine.
He had initially planned to race in Formula 3 for two years before doing the same in F2, but won F3 in his rookie season and looks set to accomplish the same feat in F2 - a feat achieved previously by Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
“I think I caught myself out with how well it's gone to be honest,” said Piastri, who is managed by nine-times grand prix winner Mark Webber.
“Naturally if it caught myself out, and I know more or less what I can do, then I think that's naturally going to catch out a few other people as well.
“The original plan from even when I got into F3 was two years of F3 and two years of F2. And F3 obviously went better than planned and F2 is also probably going better than planned.
“Not trying to sound arrogant, but there's very few drivers that have managed to do what I've done and what I'm doing.
“George and Charles are kind of the only two that have had a similar fate. So without blowing my own horn, it's not a very common situation.”
Related video
Alpine "won't stand in the way" of Zhou F1 drive at Alfa Romeo
Pirelli: Better F1 rain tyres would make visibility worse
The self-critical Alpine F1 junior who considers top F2 rookie status as “average”
The self-critical Alpine F1 junior who considers top F2 rookie status as “average” The self-critical Alpine F1 junior who considers top F2 rookie status as “average”
Pedrosa "doesn't miss racing very much" despite starring Misano MotoGP wildcard
Pedrosa "doesn't miss racing very much" despite starring Misano MotoGP wildcard Pedrosa "doesn't miss racing very much" despite starring Misano MotoGP wildcard
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022 Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race
Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race Norris: Hard to beat Verstappen unless Piastri emulates Senna/Prost in Japan F1 race
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri The Alonso/Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The physical and mental tuning helping Piastri acclimatise to F1
The physical and mental tuning helping Piastri acclimatise to F1 The physical and mental tuning helping Piastri acclimatise to F1
Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin
Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin Harmony between factories key to Alpine F1 fortunes - Famin
Alpine ready to test Schumacher for WEC drive
Alpine ready to test Schumacher for WEC drive Alpine ready to test Schumacher for WEC drive
The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval
The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval
Live: F1 Japanese GP updates
Live: F1 Japanese GP updates Live: F1 Japanese GP updates
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole
BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole BTCC Silverstone: Rookie Doble takes shock pole
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker? Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential F1 Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.