Fernando Alonso isn’t ready to hand F1 seat to Aussie prodigy Oscar Piastri

Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso is not about to make finding a seat in Formula One easy on Aussie prodigy Oscar Piastri.

Fernando Alonso isn't about to stand aside. Photo: Getty Images

Double world champion Fernando Alonso on Friday said he planned to keep racing for at least two or three years more, denying feeling pressure to step aside for a younger driver.

The 40-year-old Spaniard is in his second term with French team Alpine alongside Esteban Ocon, with highly rated prospect Oscar Piastri their reserve driver and knocking on the door.

Watch Every Practice, Qualifying & Race of The 2022 Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix. Live & Ad-Break Free During Racing on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Australian Piastri, 21, is widely tipped for promotion next season, whether with Alpine or another team.

But Alonso insisted that as long as he was performing well, he had no concerns.

“I think obviously if I was 25 there would obviously not be this talk, it’s an age thing,” he said in Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

“But I think this is about performance. Last year I think I did well. This year, let’s see how it goes, but it is about performance and not age.”

Fernando Alonso is 21 at heart. Photo by Paul Crock / AFP

Alonso made his F1 debut in 2001 and won the world championship in 2005 and 2006.

After over 300 grands prix, he took a hiatus from Formula One, winning the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 hours race in 2018 and 2019.

Now back in the F1 paddock, he said he remained hungry for more success.

“I think I still feel competitive and fast and I’m enjoying my time in Formula One, so I will race I guess a couple more years, two or three more years,” he said.

“If it’s with Alpine it will be good, if it’s with another team it will be good as well.

“I’ll start these discussions probably in the summer.”

Piastri won the F3 and F2 in successive seasons but was unable to secure a job for the 2022 season, although it had been believed he was being groomed for a seat from 2023 after becoming Alpine’s reserve driver.

Oscar Piastri is already a fan fave. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Aussie wunderkind said on stage at the Australian Grand Prix that he would consider not being in Formula One next year as a failure.

“Whether I end up on the grid next year or not, that’s the first indicator [of success],” he said.

“There’s a lot of work for me behind the scenes, especially in the simulator back at the factory at Alpine — that’s where a lot of my work gets done for this year — also we’re doing a big testing program in the 2021 Alpine F1 car across the year.

“That’s really where I can try and hone my skills and improve further and hopefully sign a contract next year somewhere.”