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Oscar Piastri took part in the Yas Marina Circuit post-season test for the first time as a McLaren Formula 1 driver on Tuesday. The one-day test involves all ten teams, with each running two cars throughout the day. One of the cars is designated for a young or inexperienced driver, which Piastri falls into. Following a contractual dispute earlier this season, the Australian will make his F1 debut with McLaren next year. Alpine initially stated that he would compete for their team in 2022, after being a member of its junior academy for the previous few years. However, it quickly became clear that Piastri had a contract to race elsewhere on the grid in 2023.
Alpine and McLaren took the case to the Contract Recognition Board, which ruled that McLaren’s contract was Piastri’s only viable option. The 21-year-old recently finished his seat fitting for the McLaren test before getting behind the wheel for the first time at the post-season event. Piastri had not been seen in the F1 paddock since his return from the summer break prior to Abu Dhabi. Alpine had to look elsewhere after losing out to Piastri to find a replacement for Fernando Alonso, who left for Aston Martin in 2023.
It eventually signed AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, who will join compatriot Esteban Ocon on the team next year. Piastri will race alongside Lando Norris in 2023, during what is expected to be one of the most closely watched rookie seasons in modern F1 history.
Oscar Piastri is an Australian racing driver who previously worked in the Alpine F1 Team’s driving programme and now works as the team’s Reserve Driver. With Prema Racing, he won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020, and the Driver’s Formula 2 Championship in 2021. Piastri began karting in 2011 and went pro in 2014, competing in a variety of Australian races and competitions. Piastri joined Ricky Flynn Motorsport in 2015 and began participating in European and foreign CIK-FIA sanctioned karting competitions, finishing sixth in the 2016 World Championship in Bahrain.
