Oscar Piastri to replace Fernando Alonso in Alpine

Alpine have announced their highly-rated reserve driver Oscar Piastri has been promoted to a race seat next year, as the replacement for Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso.

A statement from the team announcing the news said: "As part of his formative F1 journey, Oscar was first promoted to BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver at the start of the 2022 season and has since been undergoing, under the Team’s guidance and its full financial support, an intensive and comprehensive training programme of private tests in the race-winning A521, the 2021 Alpine F1 car, race support and simulator sessions to prepare him for the next big step into F1.

"Alpine now looks forward to seeing the next stage in his F1 career alongside Esteban Ocon."