Piastri gets rookie F1 test outing for Alpine in Abu Dhabi
Piastri is on course to win his third consecutive junior series title, holding a 51.5-point advantage at the top of the F2 championship heading into this weekend’s final round of the season at Yas Marina.
Following his likely championship coronation, the 20-year-old Australian will get his first taste of running in current F1 machinery when he gets behind the wheel of Alpine’s race-winning A521 in Tuesday’s rookie test.
Having missed out on F1 promotion for 2022, Piastri will spend next season working as Alpine’s official reserve driver. He will conduct simulator work and take part in F1 practice outings for the Anglo-French squad.
“I’m very excited to drive in the young driver test,” Piastri said. “It’s almost like my first official day in my new job for next year when I become the team’s reserve driver.
“Any day in an F1 car is pretty special but to drive the current one with other drivers on track in a somewhat competitive environment is very cool. Thanks to the team for this opportunity, I’m certainly looking forward to it and working through a very full testing programme on the day.”
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi added: “Oscar has had a fantastic Formula 2 season this year, again showing his class, and this Young Driver Test appearance is well earned.
"This test will be part of Oscar’s ongoing development as he prepares to become the team’s Reserve Driver for 2022, to aid and assist Fernando and Esteban and our development teams on and off the track.”
The rookie test will run in parallel with a two-day 18-inch Pirelli tyre test using mule F1 cars next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Piastri’s F2 title rivals Robert Shwartzman and Guanyo Zhou will be in action for Haas and Alfa Romeo respectively, with Zhou getting some early running with the team he will make his F1 debut with next year.
Full Abu Dhabi rookie test line-up:
Mercedes: Nyck de Vries
Red Bull: Juri Vips
McLaren: Pato O’Ward
Aston Martin: Nick Yelloly
Alpine: Oscar Piastri
Ferrari: Antonio Fuoco
AlphaTauri: Liam Lawson
Alfa Romeo: Guanyu Zhou
Haas: Robert Shwartzman
Williams: TBC
