Otmar Szafnauer eyeing 2023 bow for Oscar Piastri

Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has said that he will be pushing to get Oscar Piastri a spot on the grid next season, even if it’s not with his current team.

Piastri is a real talent and some were a little surprised he didn’t find his way onto the grid for 2022, though there are obviously some big names in his way.

At Alpine, a strong line-up of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon was never really going to be broken up and, with Alonso still looking to remain in the sport for a little while yet and still putting in the performances, Piastri may have to look elsewhere to be driving in 2023.

Szafnauer says he’s eager to help solve that conundrum, though:

“It’s great that Fernando wants to continue and at the same time we have Oscar in our ranks. Oscar is a wonderful young man. He is well prepared and very ambitious,” said Szafnauer said, quoted by Motorsport-Magazin.

“We are working hard with Oscar, if the opportunity arises, to put him in a Formula 1 car. We will already give him that opportunity later this year as he will do some free practice for us. In addition, he also does a lot of work for us on the simulator. He’s an up-and-coming talent to watch.

“There is no pressure to find him a seat as it’s only April. But in July, the pressure will certainly be there.”