Piastri: 2022 ‘sacrifice’ would be worth 2023 F1 seat

Oscar Piastri says he would be willing to spend 2022 on the sidelines if it brought him a race seat in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Piastri, 20, currently holds a 36-point advantage during his rookie season in Formula 2, with only two rounds remaining, in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

Piastri previously won the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup and the 2020 Formula 3 championship.

Despite being on the brink of a third junior title in as many years Piastri’s Formula 1 prospects for 2022 appear bleak.

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Piastri, linked to the Alpine Formula 1 team, is not in contention for the final vacancy on the 2022 grid, at Alfa Romeo, alongside Valtteri Bottas.

The Australian has suggested a back-up role, along with FP1 outings, is his target for next year.

“Most likely it would lead to a year on the side lines, which is never ideal, but it’s not the first person it’d happen to and won’t be the last,” he said.

“I still have to win this championship to make that happen, so there’s still a lot of things that can happen, but that’s what we’re [aiming for].

“It’s not ideal to not be racing, as that’s what we love to do as racing drivers naturally, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take if it leads to a race seat for the following year.”

Piastri says discussions will take place during the lengthy break between now and the next round of Formula 2 in early December.

“I can’t go back to Australia, so that’s out of the question,” he said.

“I’ll see if Alpine’s got anything planned for me, but yeah, we’ll see, most likely try and work out the plans for next year as we’ve certainly got a lot of time to discuss it now.”