Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel thinks that Oscar Piastri will race for Williams in 2023, as he has suggested that the Australian may have already signed his contract. Piastri was unable to find a seat on the grid for 2022, despite storming to three championship wins in a row in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and Formula 2, and instead took on the role of reserve driver at Alpine. He has been regularly spotted testing for the French outfit, including during a recent run behind the wheel of the A521 at the Red Bull Ring, but is yet to show his face during an official Formula 1 session. However, he could be in line to replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams for the 2023 season, according to Coronel, as part of a loan move funded by Alpine to hand their young driver some F1 racing experience.
Williams could become training ground for Piastri
Latifi's poor start to the season could see his career in F1 come to an end after 2022 with his replacement having already been lined up, according to Coronel. "We will, of course, see the Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri drive there," said the Dutch racer, who was present in Monaco, speaking on the RacingNews365 F1 podcast. "That seems to have already been signed in Monaco. I don't know when they're going to come out with it. That's a strong rumour. "If you want to mature someone in Formula 1, like Piastri, then Alpine has set aside a decent budget for this: a budget to park him and get him used to Formula 1."
Piastri move would confirm Alonso's F1 future
The announcement of a seat at Williams for Piastri in 2023 would all but confirm that Fernando Alonso will be staying with Alpine beyond the end of his current deal. Alonso returned to F1 for the 2021 season, to partner Esteban Ocon, and outscored his younger, highly-rated teammate by seven points. "You wouldn't loan out a driver like Piastri," Coronel continued. "You don't put him in a Williams for nothing. "That means [Alpine] would like to keep their driver line-up unchanged."
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