Alpine confident Alonso, Piastri will be on ’23 F1 grid, will only loan Piastri
Alpine boss Laurent Rossi is confident both Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri will be on the Formula 1 grid in 2023, but he will only consider loaning Piastri out.
Alpine is currently weighing up its driver options for next year as two-time world champion Alonso comes to the end of his contract, while reigning F2 champion and current reserve driver Piastri aims to step up to F1.
Piastri has been tipped to join Williams on loan for next year, replacing Nicholas Latifi, but Alpine is yet to make any announcement regarding the Australian’s future, leading to growing speculation in the F1 paddock of possible twists in silly season.
Speaking on Saturday at Paul Ricard, Alpine CEO Rossi said the team was working on both drivers’ futures to ensure they found seats for next season.
“Well Fernando, his contract is over this year, so obviously we’re discussing with him,” Rossi said.
“We’re making and building scenarios for him and Oscar, as I’m sure you would ask me. The idea is that the two of them are worthy drivers, and we would love them to drive next year.”
Asked if he thought both would be on the grid in 2023, Rossi replied: “I think so.” But he refused to expand on the details about where he thought they would drive.
Rossi added that his confidence of having both Alonso and Piastri on the grid next year was because the deals being explored were “very plausible, very sensible and that we imagine would satisfy both drivers.”
Oscar Piastri, Reserve Driver, Alpine F1 Team
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
But he made clear that Alpine would not consider releasing Piastri entirely from its programme, and that any deal for him to race in F1 for another team would only be a loan agreement.
“I’d be open to loan Oscar out to a team as long as I get him back,” Rossi said.
“We’ve invested heavily in Oscar, we believe in him, that is why he is our reserve driver. He’s a very promising talent, we would love to fulfil this talent in the team.
“A loan like many other drivers starting in a team to learn the tricks, and then coming back to us would be a good scenario.”
Williams F1 chief Jost Capito said the team had “various options” to explore for its line-up next year, and that he would be open to having a driver on loan if it worked for the team.
“I think if that’s best for us, then we would consider that,” Capito said.
“If we would have another better solution, then we would go for the better solution.”
Gasly more confident with ‘sharper’ AlphaTauri after France update
F1 teams urge FIA not to delay finalising 2023 floor rules
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1? Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion
Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds
Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds
Mercedes: Team orders all about protecting Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism
Mercedes: Team orders all about protecting Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism Mercedes: Team orders all about protecting Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.