Aussie teen Oscar Piastri signs for championship-leading team Prema Racing in Formula 2 in 2021

Rising Aussie star Oscar Piastri has some big shoes to fill after graduating to a F2 drive with the powerful Prema Racing Team.

Oscar Piastri (AUS) Renault Sport Academy Driver. RS18 Bahrain RSA Test, Friday 30th October 2020. Sakhir, Bahrain.

Aussie young gun Oscar Piastri has moved another step closer to Formula One after confirmation of his signing with the championship-leading Prema Racing team in F2 next year.

The Melbourne teenager claimed the Formula 3 title with Prema Racing in a standout rookie season in 2020 and will continue his partnership with the series-leading outfit.

Piastri is poised to step into the Prema seat of Mick Schumacher, son of Ferrari great Michael, who is expected to graduate to F1 next year with Haas his likely destination.

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Oscar Piastri is set to make his next move on the road to an F1 drive..

Schumacher holds a 14-point lead in the F2 championship for Prema heading into the final race of the season in Bahrain this weekend.

Piastri, whose career is being guided by the former Red Bull star and nine-time Grand Prix winner Mark Webber, was excited to take the next step after his F3 title win.

“I’m super excited to be racing with Prema in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 championship,” Piastri said.

“We had a very successful 2020 season, winning the Formula 3 championship together, and I’m hoping for another successful year with them.

“Prema has proven to be the team to beat once again in F2 this year, so I’m extremely happy to be moving into the championship with them.

“I’m very grateful to stay a part of the Prema family.”

Piastri will immediately take part in the post-season test with the team in Bahrain next week.

Mark Webber with rising star Oscar Piastri.

The 19-year-old confirmed his status as Australia’s rising star of international motorsport after claiming the Formula 3 title in a thrilling finale at the Tuscan Grand Prix in September.

A member of the Renault Sport Academy, Piastri earned a test drive with the Renault F1 team in Bahrain in late October as a “reward” for his 2020 championship win.

Webber predicted recently his protege would be racing in Formula One by 2023.

“Every year is a huge year, every race is a big deal in the next few years for Oscar,” Webber said.

“It is ramping up really hard now. Next year (F2) will be another big step again.

“So it’s a year or two years (for him to get into F1). A year would be very quick, two years is going to be more realistic, so you are looking at .”

Originally published as Aussie teen Oscar Piastri signs for championship-leading team Prema Racing in Formula 2 in 2021