Alpine team boss hints at F1 seat for Oscar Piastri in 2023

Over the past few weeks, rumors have been growing that Oscar Piastri will secure an F1 seat at Williams next season. The reserve driver and also Formula 2 champion of Alpine was without a seat this year, but the signs seem to point more and more towards a future at Williams. Team owner Otmar Szafnauer seems to be keeping a low profile, although he does hint at an F1 future for the Australian.

In the FIA press conference, the Alpine team boss is asked about his junior's future. When asked if he thinks Piastri will have an F1 seat in 2023, Szafnauer is clear. He expects his junior to drive in F1 next season. At which team that will be, he would not say. "It's hard for me to predict the future, I don't know more than the rest do" the team boss let us know according to Motorsport-Magazin.

F1 races for Piastri as early as 2022?

In addition to the rumors of a seat for Piastri in 2023, there are also rumors circulating that a driver change will take place already this season. Piastri would then already drive for Williams this season, at the expense of Nicholas Latifi. According to Szafnauer, that option is among the possibilities and should certainly not be ruled out.

Jost Capito, Williams' team boss, is a lot more definite. In the same press conference he let it be known that there are no plans to make a change in the middle of the season. However, Piastri is on the list of drivers to earn a seat for next season, but according to Capito the Australian is on that list with several teams.