Otmar Szafnauer stressed that Alpine has not yet decided who will be the team's second Formula 1 driver, but made it clear that he considers the young Australian ready to make his Formula 1 debut
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer makes no secret of the fact that he has a favorite for the spot next to Esteban Ocon for the 2023 Formula 1 season: Oscar Piastri. The manager stressed that he considers the Australian ready for the elite of world motorsport and stressed that it was not him who chose to sign Fernando Alonso.
Two-time Formula 1 champion, Alonso is 40 years old and was on the podium for the last time in last year's Qatar GP, when he took third place. In this year's championship, Fernando is 10th in the standings with 29 points, 23 points behind Ocon, who is eighth in the Drivers' World Championship.
While Esteban has already had his contract renewed for next year, Alonso's fate remains uncertain. But, if it depends only on Szafnauer, Alonso's trajectory with Alpine seems close to the end.
"I wasn't in the team when they hired Fernando," Szafnauer said. "Here he has a whole environment, an atmosphere, the employees and the car he needs. I think we will have one of the three best cars in two years," he stressed.
While making clear the cold relationship with Alonso, Szafnauer showed closeness to Piastri, but stressed that the final decision has not been made. Oscar was Formula 3 champion in 2020 with Prema and won Formula 2 with the same team last year.
"Oscar already has potential for Formula 1. However, we have not yet made the decision regarding the second driver. But I have no doubt that Piastri is ready.
Alonso sees the team as a "priority," but he knows he cannot force a contract renewal.
"Alpine is my priority, but I can't put a gun to their heads to renew," he acknowledged. "Alpine is my family, I feel fresh and motivated, ready for a few more years. My intention is to renew," he concluded.