Alpine junior Oscar Piastri says the extensive test program that the French outfit has put together for him this year "speaks volumes" about the manufacturer's belief in his future as a F1 driver.
Last year, Piastri won the FIA Formula 2 Championship at his first attempt, an achievement that came on the back of his Formula 3 title in 2020.
The 20-year-old's successive accomplishments in the junior ranks warranted a logical step-up to F1, but with Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso committed to 2022, Alpine couldn't promote its protégé to the big time.
Piastri will therefore spend his year on the sidelines but not away from the track.
"Alpine are putting together such an extensive test programme for this year and I think that speaks volumes about their belief in me," Piastri told Formula1.com's Lawrence Barretto at the end of last season.
"The testing programme I’ll be doing, especially nowadays where in-season testing is banned with the current cars, I think it’s very rare to see that – so I think it speaks volumes about what Alpine think I can do.
"I’m looking forward to it. While there is no confirmation of whether it will lead to a step up, it’s definitely a very positive sign that they are very keen to have me."
In addition to a heavy private testing schedule with Alpine, Piastri will embed with the team on race many race weekends and rack up the miles in the Enstone squad's simulator as part of the team's 2022 development program.
"I live just 20 mins away from Enstone – and I’ll be staying there this year," he said.
"I go to Enstone already four or five days anyway through the academy when I’m not racing – so I feel like I’m already pretty embedded.
"I will be moving away from the academy side of things this year to the main team, so there will be a few new faces as F1 teams are big but looking forward to it and I think we’ll just increase that relationship we already have through the academy."
With Ocon's services for 2023 already locked in by Alpine, Piastri's graduation to F1 could depend on Alonso's will to race on next year, a likely prospect if the Spaniard feels his outfit can pull its weight and join the fight at the front of the grid.
But Alpine has vowed not to leave Piastri stranded for another year on the sidelines, and the French manufacturer is determined to find a seat for the Aussie elsewhere in F1, with the right to call him back to the mothership at some point.
"Graduating from the academy is the goal for both parties involved – myself and Alpine," said Piastri.
"I would have loved to have been straight into a race seat out of F2, but the way things have panned out, that hasn’t been possible.
"I’m super happy we could make the reserve driver role happen. Even this year, while I won’t be in a race seat, there is still a lot I can learn, experience the pretty hectic schedule of a F1 season and help out behind the scenes and fully focus on F1 – as that’s where I want to get to in the future."
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