Three drivers could take part in Australia’s upcoming British Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, with Oscar Piastri and Jack Duhan both in line for the promotion.
According to Formula 1 Paddock’s latest word, Piastri is expected to replace Williams fighter Nicholas Latifi in the second half of the season, while Duhan could take part in the opening practice session for the Alpine.
Piastry, the current F2 champion, has been strongly associated with the Williams team, with reports in recent days that he signed a contract at the Monaco Grand Prix last month.
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He is currently the reserve driver of the Alpine, the team faces a choice for 2023 between the 21-year-old Australian and his current driver, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
The Spaniard, who is in the final year of his two-year contract with the team, has made it clear he wants to continue beyond 2022.
But under the 2023 agreement with Esteban Oakon, there is room for either Alonso or Piastri, meaning Alpine could make a deal where Piastri Williams is lent to gain experience.
Piastri is considered a future star after winning Formula Renault EuroCup, F3 and F2 titles in successive seasons.
If Melbourne makes his debut at Silverstone, there will be four races to impress him before the summer break, while Alpine will probably make a call for 2023.
For Silverstone, Red Bull Ring (Austria) and Paul Ricard (France) – Piastri has already tested a Formula 1 car in three of these four circuits. He is expected to test again at Silverstone before the British Grand Prix.
Piastri’s management declined to comment when contacted by Wide World of Sports.
Alpine’s driver lineup doesn’t have to be late in deciding. Alonso doesn’t seem to have a better option for next season, when Alpine controls Piastri’s fortunes.
Only a late change of heart from Williams could save Latifi, who finished last in the driver’s championship. Next weekend the Canadian Grand Prix, his home race, could be his last for the team.
Duhan, meanwhile, is emerging as the big winner of the mid-season reshuffle, and could join Piastry and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo for their first practice session at Silverstone, with Alpine reportedly weighing in on the 19-year-old’s chances. Old opportunities to show his talent.
Each team will have to run one rookie driver in two FP1 sessions during the season. Doohan recently tested a 2021 Alpine Formula 1 car, sharing a test session with Piastri in Qatar.
Piastry was expected to take the wheel for both of Alpine’s rookie driver sessions, but his potential transfer to Williams seems to have opened the door for his fellow Australians, who joined Alpine Academy this year.
Doohan finished second at last year’s F3 Championships, and made a solid start to the F2 season, currently sixth in the title race. He claimed pole position in both the Bahraini and Spanish rounds.
Although Duhan will have to practice F2 and a Formula 1 at Silverstone, this is not unprecedented, Jury Vips did just that at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this year.
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