The Australian is unlikely to reach an F1 circuit next year and could stand on the sidelines for a year, despite emerging as a favorite to win the F2 championship that year.
After his second victory in the main race in Sochi, Piastri has a 36-point lead over Guanyu Zhou, who is one of the leading contenders for the remaining F1 drive at Alfa Romeo in 2022.
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The 20-year-old Alpine Academy driver has openly admitted that his F1 chances are slim for 2022 and is aiming for a reserve driver role at Alpine.
While such a role would most likely result in Piastri racing without a race in 2022, the role of a reserve driver could prove beneficial in preparation for promotion to F1 in the future.
“I’ll see if Alpine has something planned and most likely I’ll try to work out plans for next year because we certainly have a lot of time to discuss it now,” said Piastri when asked what he was doing in the 10-week break will do before the next F2 round in Saudi Arabia.
When asked about the benefits of being a reserve driver, he added, “It [a reserve driver role] would be helpful and helpful to all young people getting these FP1 sessions.
“That’s our goal right now and it would most likely lead to a year on the sidelines, which is never ideal, but it’s not the first person it happened to and it won’t be the last.
“I still have to win this championship to achieve that. So there are still a lot of things that can happen by then, but that is definitely our goal.
“Of course it is not ideal not to race because we as racing drivers like to do that very much.
Oscar Piastri, Prema Racing
Photo by: James Gasperotti / Motorsport Images
“That’s a sacrifice I’m ready if it leads to a seat for the following year.”
Plans for the next year depend on what happens in the F2 title race, as Piastri would not be able to return to the category in 2022 should he win the title under the current championship regulations.
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Despite a healthy points lead, Piastri refuses to call himself a World Cup favorite ahead of the final two rounds in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in December.
“I’m not going to call myself a favorite, but I think my lead is the biggest ever and I feel like I’m driving well and the team did a great job with the car,” he added.
“I think we’ve been strong since lap 1 and have been on the podium in every main race except Bahrain, so that’s proof of the overall package. I am happy that I am in the position I am in and that I don’t have to chase after it.
“It’s nice to have that gap and now I have two and a half months to dream about it, but I want to take that further and make it a little more comfortable because with the format this year everything can change, instantly. I can’t get beyond myself. “
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