Australian Oscar Piastri will be reserve driver for Alpine’s Formula 1 team next year. The 20-year-old Piastri has been part of the training program of Renault, the French car manufacturer that owns the racing stable, for almost two years. The Chinese Guanyu Zhou (22) provides a first in Formula 1 at Alfa Romeo.
Jonas WithouckSource: BELGIAN
Piastri drives in Formula 2 and is heading for the world title. Last year he became champion in Formula 3. The Australian has 36 points ahead of the Chinese Guanyu Zhou after six of the eight races. The Formula 2 drivers will race in Saudi Arabia (December 3-5) and Abu Dhabi (December 10-12) this season.
“I am very happy to be a reserve driver at Alpine after two successful years in the academy,” said Piastri. “I can’t wait to get started and increase my involvement with the team. The goal is to have a spot as a permanent driver at Alpine by 2023.”
The Spaniard Fernando Alonso (40) and the Frenchman Esteban Ocon (25) will again form the driver duo of Alpine in Formula 1 next season. Alonso, the world champion of 2005 and 2006, and Ocon have so far managed to collect 112 points this year. This puts the French team in fifth place in the World Constructors’ Championship. In the individual standings, Alonso is tenth and Ocon eleventh.
Scoop
Guanyu Zhou becomes China’s first full-time Formula 1 driver. The number two in the Formula 2 position will start working at Alfa Romeo next year. He will replace 27-year-old Italian Antonio Giovinazzi.
Zhou will form a tandem with Finn Valtteri Bottas, who comes over from Mercedes and takes the place of his compatriot Kimi Räikkönen.
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