Alpine - "No pressure" on placing Piastri in F1

Otmar Szafnauer has insisted there is "no pressure" on Alpine to place Oscar Piastri in a 2023 F1 race seat.

Reserve driver Piastri was heavily touted for an F1 drive this year given his F1 championship win - his third junior formula triumph in three years - but the Australian has instead settled in underneath Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.

Frenchman Ocon signed a long-term contract with the team last year whilst Alonso has indicated his desire to remain in the sport.

This leaves Piastri with an uncertain future but with the opportunity to continue his development throughout the current campaign as part of his reserve duties.

Asked how the Alpine would achieve the development, team principal Szafnauer replied: "Well, it's great that Fernando wants to continue and we also have Oscar on our books.

"Oscar is a wonderful young man. He’s very well prepared. He's really, really hungry.

"One of the most competent young men coming through, and we're working hard with him to… if there's a possibility to stick him in the Formula 1 car, we've given him that opportunity.

"Later on in the year he'll do some FP1s as well for us. He's doing a lot of simulator work for us, too. An upcoming talent to watch."

On whether there would be any pressure to find a seat elsewhere for Piastri, Szafnaur said: No, not as we sit here in April.

"I think the pressure and the silly season will be upon us in July. So yeah, no pressure."

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