Alpine letting Piastri go to Alfa Romeo for F1 2022 would be “strange” - Vasseur

There is just one remaining seat on the F1 grid for 2022 with Alfa Romeo yet to decide who will team up with Bottas.

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou is the leading contender for the second Alfa seat, while fellow Alpine junior Piastri is also in the frame.

Piastri currently leads the F2 standings ahead of Zhou with two rounds remaining.

The Australian is currently part of Alpine’s driver academy, but the French team has locked down Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso for next year.

Speaking on Friday at Istanbul Park, Vasseur didn’t give too much away when he was asked about the team’s plans for next year.

“I didn’t say which year of September,” he said. “But seriously we are not in a rush to take a decision, we have a couple of options on the table and have to take time to decide, we are not in a rush, the situation won’t change over the next couple of days and we’ll take a decision soon.”

Vasseur was then pressed by the media as to why Alfa Romeo hasn’t made a decision yet.

He explained: “Because we are discussing with all the parties involved. it is not an easy choice, as we are at the beginning of the new regulation, it’s a new journey for the F1 and we have to consider all the points, it made sense for us to look at the last events of the F2, Monza and Sochi, and okay now the situation is like this and we’ll take a decision in the next couple of weeks don’t worry.”

Due to Piastri’s association with Alpine, Vasseur doesn’t see why it would let him go to another team given that it has invested heavily into his junior career.

“Oscar is doing a very good job, performing and consistent over the last weekends, but as far as I know he is linked with Alpine,” he added.

“Honestly, I didn’t discuss with Alpine about this but if you invest in a driver with a long term programme I don’t see the point to let him go to another team in F1, it would be strange.”

Ahead of the Turkish GP, there were reports that claimed Zhou wants a three-year deal, while Alfa Romeo only want to give their second driver a one-year contract.

“It’s a good question, but for sure with Valtteri we secured the future of the company, we could be tempted to have a one year deal and not exposure too much the team, but I think will be a large part of the discussion, and I would say a one year deal is a good option.”