Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has expressed confidence that both Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri will race in Formula 1 next year.
Alpine currently only has Esteban Ocon under contract for 2023, after the Frenchman signed a multi-year extension last year.
Piastri, who is part of the Alpine academy, took on the role of reserve driver for the 2022 campaign when he failed to find a seat in F1 following his championship success in last year’s Formula 2 Championship.
Alpine is currently in discussions with Alonso regarding a contract for next year, however it is also trying to secure a spot on the grid of Piastri.
“Well Fernando, his contract is over this year, so obviously we’re discussing with him,” Rossi said.
“We’re building scenarios for him and Oscar, as I’m sure you would ask me. The idea is that the two of them are worthy drivers, and we would love them to drive next year.”
When asked if both drivers would be racing on the F1 grid next year, Rossi said: “I think so.”
Piastri has been linked to a potential seat at Williams, with Nicholas Latifi’s future in F1 under scrutiny.
Rossi says that Alpine would be willing to loan out Piastri to another team, both only under the assurance that he would remain part of the Alpine family.
“I’d be open to loan Oscar out to a team as long as I get him back,” he said.
“We’ve invested heavily in Oscar, we believe in him, that’s why he’s our reserve driver. He’s a very promising talent, we would love to fulfil this talent in the team.
“So a loan, like many other drivers starting in a team to learn the tricks, and then coming back to us would be a good scenario.”
Williams CEO Jost Capito added: “I think we’ve got various options. We will go what is best for the team, but it’s too early to get into details, because we’re not there yet.
“I think if that [a loan] is best for us, then we would consider that.
“If we would have another better solution, then we would go for the better solution.”
I would like to see Latiffi try out a different team. Is it really him that sucks, Williams that sucks or both. Russell seems to be doing ok now that he’s showing Lulu how to drive