Piastri would have preferred to compete from 2022, instead of being a reserve driver at Alpine
After his F2 title, Oscar Piastri spent 2022 as a reserve driver at Alpine before becoming a full-time driver at McLaren the following year. While the Australian admits that it was useful for him, he would have preferred to directly compete in races.
Jenson Button recently believed that throwing a (very) young driver into the F1 deep end can destroy a driver’s career, notably due to the mental pressure this sport puts on them. Alpine surely opted for caution by hiring Oscar Piastri, who is currently 20 years old, as a reserve driver for the 2022 season.
The Australian had just won the Formula 2 title with Prema Racing. The French team therefore wanted him to discover the premier category for a year without the pressure of race results. But number 81 regrets this decision: “Being in a race would have been better,” he told Auto Motor und Sport. “There is no environment in which you can better prepare.”
A year of learning
Oscar Piastri had to bide his time, but this season as a reserve has been beneficial for him. During my probation year, I learned a lot about the Formula 1 world outside the cockpit, more than I had hoped. I understood that one can quickly be caught up in the gears. But I also learned useful things about how to prepare mentally for races, he says.
The Australian has also adapted to the demands that Formula 1 represents compared to Formula 2, especially regarding the development of single-seaters. The playing field is different when you add the development of the car. In Formula 3 or 2, you have to work with the car that is given to you. Absorbing this without the pressure of having to race at the same time has certainly been valuable, adds the 23-year-old.
No one knows if a permanent contract in 2022 would have been beneficial or harmful to Piastri’s career. However, the Australian insisted: “If I had the choice today, I would have preferred to continue [the competition] directly after Formula 2.” His first two career victories this season with McLaren should help alleviate this regret.
