The FIA Formula 2 championship leader, who is a member of the Alpine Academy, is currently without a seat for next year if he takes the F2 title.
With only one F1 seat available at Alfa Romeo, which Piastri says is “not very confident”, the Australian is instead focusing on securing the role of Alpine reserve driver for next season.
But he says if he were forced to spend more than a year outside of a racing environment there would be “some serious discussion about what I’m going to do in the future”.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Piastri said: “I’m not very confident about this Alfa seat.
“Realistically, the most logical way to be the reserve driver for Alpine next year is to invest hours and hours in the simulation and really work with the team to get a seat for 2023.
“I think it would be okay to spend a year on the sidelines. Obviously it’s still not ideal, but it has happened to a lot of riders out there.
“I can accept that, but if it looked like more than a year then there was serious discussion about what I would do in the future.
“The goal would definitely be to become a substitute driver at Alpine and then aim for a 2023 season. Given how the cards have been played this year, I think that is now the most realistic goal. “
Oscar Piastri, Prema Racing, 1st place, with his trophy
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The F2 rookie, who clinched pole in the main race in Sochi on Friday, says part of the problem is due to the fact that he exceeded both his own and Alpine’s expectations.
He originally planned to race in Formula 3 for two years before doing the same in Formula 2, but won Formula 3 in his rookie season and is expected to do the same in Formula 2 – an accomplishment that previously Charles Leclerc and George Russell succeeded.
“I think I surprised myself at how well it went, to be honest,” said Piastri, who is led by nine-time Grand Prix winner Mark Webber.
“Of course, if it got me and I more or less know what I can do, then I think that of course a few other people will be caught too.
“The original plan, even when I got into F3, was two years F3 and two years F2. And F3 obviously went better than planned, and F2 probably went better than planned too.
“I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but there are very few drivers who have managed to do what I did and what I do.
“George and Charles are the only two who have had a similar fate. Without blowing my own horn, that’s not a very common situation. “
