Australia’s Oscar Piastri could move from reserve driver to F1 seat for Alpine after Fernando Alonso signs with Aston Martin for 2023

Highly rated young Australian motor racing ace Oscar Piastri appears on the cusp of securing a prized Formula One seat after the shock defection of veteran Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso.

Alonso has signed a multi-year deal with British-based F1 team Aston Martin and Piastri is considered the two-time world champion’s obvious successor at Alpine for the 2023 season.

A winner of the 2021 Formula Two championship, Piastri has been Alpine’s reserve driver this season amid speculation he could be loaned out to another Formula One team in 2023.

But the 41-year-old Alonso’s switch from the Renault-owned Alpine — as a replacement for retiring four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin — makes Piastri a warm favourite to join Daniel Ricciardo in bolstering Australia’s presence in the F1 ranks.

Piastri — who is managed by Australia’s former Formula One star Mark Webber — is considered a rising talent in motor racing.

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The 21-year-old from Melbourne claimed the Formula Three championship in 2020 to announce his arrival on the world stage.

Should Piastri secure a seat with Alpine in 2023, he will be become the first Australian driver to make a Formula One debut since Ricciardo stepped up in the 2011 British Grand Prix.

While confirming Alonso’s departure, Alpine says it is premature to add to speculation that Piastri will be his replacement.

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“The team will announce its driver line-up for the 2023 Formula One season in due course,” Alpine said.

“We look forward to finishing the remainder of the 2022 season with Fernando in blue, and we’ll keep pushing to the maximum until the final lap in November.”