The Australian driver, starting his second season in Formula 1. This is his second season with McLaren and he is already demonstrating a level of maturity and composure that goes beyond his young age of 22 and only one season of experience at the top of racing, all with a playful touch of humor.
At the end of an interview on F1TV Pro discussing the upcoming 2024 F1 season, Piastri was asked to make a bold and mischievous prediction. With a serious expression, he declared, “Alonso to Mercedes.”
In fact, besides the groundbreaking news of “Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari,” which caused a stir in the F1 driver market, as the seat of the seven-time F1 world champion at Mercedes remains vacant, the next big news in F1 will be who will occupy that seat before the start of the 2025 season.
The list of potential candidates is expected to be extensive, with every aspiring F1 driver, as well as a large number of currently on-track drivers, many of whom will be out of contract by the end of the season, reaching out to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to offer their services.
Only time will reveal who will be George Russell’s teammate in 2024 and whether Oscar’s prediction about the Aston Martin veteran will come true. It is worth noting that the young Australian’s manager is Mark Webber, a close friend of Alonso.
Regarding the ongoing F1 testing in Bahrain, Piastri commented on the previous Friday, “I believe we are somewhere near the front of the pack. However, I don’t feel like we are currently in a position to challenge Red Bull, and I believe that feeling is shared by most of the drivers on the track at the moment.”
He further explained, “Based on previous results at the Bahrain circuit, it is not a favorable track for us on paper. Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions after just two days of testing.”
Piastri added, “The situation will likely change significantly depending on the characteristics of each circuit. It is challenging to assess where everyone else stands at the moment. However, it is evident to everyone that Red Bull is a formidable force.”
“They certainly are not slow, that’s for sure! It’s hard to determine. On the first day, Max Verstappen looked very strong, and even Sergio Perez seemed more comfortable today compared to Thursday. So, they are definitely the team to beat.”
“I’m not sure of the size of their advantage, but it is significant enough for them to feel comfortable. As for everyone else, I can’t say, but I believe Red Bull has a slight edge,” concluded Piastri, who defeated the Red Bulls in the sprint race in Qatar in 2023, his debut season in F1, finishing in ninth place.
According to the source grandprix247.com
