Aussie prodigy gets first official F1 drive

2 years ago 382

Australia's Oscar Piastri volition get his archetypal authoritative sensation of Formula 1 adjacent week erstwhile helium takes portion successful the end-of-season Young Driver Test astatine the Yas Marina Circuit successful Abu Dhabi.

The precocious signed Alpine F1 reserve operator volition walk a time astatine the helm of Alpine's A521 car, driven this play by two-time satellite champion Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon. 

A proven contention winner, Ocon drove the car to his maiden Formula 1 triumph astatine the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this year.

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Taking an tremendous measurement towards cementing a spot astatine the pinnacle of planetary motorsport, Piastri was thrilled to beryllium granted the trial thrust opportunity.

"I'm precise excited to thrust successful the Young Driver Test," helium said.

"It's astir similar my archetypal authoritative time successful my caller occupation for adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile I go the team's reserve driver.

"Any time successful an F1 car is beauteous peculiar but to thrust the existent 1 with different drivers connected way successful a somewhat competitory situation is precise cool.

"Thanks to the squad for this opportunity, I'm surely looking guardant to it and moving done a precise afloat investigating programme connected the day." 

Piastri is presently starring the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Drivers' Championship, heading into the last circular of the play astatine Abu Dhabi, with an astir unassailable 51.5-point pb implicit his PREMA Racing team-mate, Russian Robert Shwartzman.

Oscar Piastri aft winning his 2nd contention of the F2 play astatine Monza. (Getty)

Showing dominance implicit the tract successful his rookie F2 season, Piastri has taken 5 contention victories - including 2 sprint races and the past 3 consecutive diagnostic races - 9 podiums, 7 fastest thigh honours, and the past 4 consecutive rod positions.

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was pleased to kick-start Piastri's improvement successful F1 done post-season testing.

"Oscar has had a fantastic Formula 2 play this year, again showing his class, and this Young Driver Test quality is good earned," helium said.

"This trial volition beryllium portion of Oscar's ongoing improvement arsenic helium prepares to go the team's reserve operator for 2022, to assistance and assistance Fernando and Esteban and our improvement teams connected and disconnected the track."

Alonso and Ocon volition besides instrumentality to the way for 2 days of Pirelli tyre investigating arsenic the duo proceedings the caller 18" Pirelli tyres .

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