Oscar Piastri, a promising driver, will reportedly drive for Williams Racing next season, with an announcement expected in the following weeks.
According to The Race, Williams could disclose the news at the British Grand Prix, which will take place on July 1st.
Piastri is one of the world’s most highly regarded young drivers, having risen through the ranks to win the Formula 2 title at the first attempt last year.
The 21-year-old was unable to secure a racing seat for 2022 since Alpine, his contract team, already had Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, but he agreed to remain with the French constructor as their backup driver on the condition that he be guaranteed a spot for 2023.
With Ocon already signed for next season, it was believed that Piastri would replace Alonso’s place behind the wheel, and the 40-year-old two-time world champion would retire for the second time.
But instead, it seems that Alpine have agreed a loan deal with Williams for the Australian, with Alonso now likely to re-sign for another season.
Both of Piastri’s current teammates, Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi, have contracts that expire at the end of the year, although it’s quite likely that the latter will leave following a season of struggling near the back of the grid.
Williams is pursuing a new Formula One driver as a possible replacement for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Latifi debuted in Formula One in 2020 and has only finished in the points twice since then, owing to the poor performance of the Williams cars, but he has been heavily beaten by his teammates George Russell and Albon.
This year, the gap in talent has become even wider, with Latifi finishing last in the standings with a best finish of 15th, while former Red Bull driver Albon has earned up points in Australia and Miami.
Piastri has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Latifi midway through the season, although this is doubtful because Williams will not want to jeopardize the financial support that Latifi’s sponsors provide.
It is also thought that this deal between Williams and Alpine will help the former acquire Renault engines in the future, as they are supplied by the latter’s parent company.