PROST PRAISES ‘RELAXED’ PIASTRI

Four-time Formula 1 Champion Alain Prost has thrown his backing behind Australian rising star Oscar Piastri, declaring he has high expectations for the newly signed Alpine F1 reserve driver.

Piastri sits atop the Formula 2 Championship standings in 2021 after conquering the Formula 3 Championship and Formula Renault Eurocup in the two previous years.

Prost, who currently serves as non-executive Director of the Alpine F1 team, was full of praise for Piastri and his rapid rise through the open wheel ranks.

“I have followed Oscar (Piastri) for many years and winning three times in a row is exceptional, there are not many drivers that can do that,” Prost told the ‘In the Fast Lane’ podcast.

“We have a lot of expectation for Oscar in the future. I really like him very much.”

The 66-year-old also explained that mentality was key to the success of young drivers in F1 and spoke highly of Piastri in that regard.

“You absolutely cannot predict what a driver can do in Formula 1, being a victim of the pressure,” Prost said.

“We have seen in the past that sometimes it cannot work because some drivers when they arrive in Formula 1 lose a little bit because they must feel too much pressure.

“I think we should avoid this kind of this kind of problem, he is very strong in his head while not old at all.

“In the paddock I have said hello to Oscar, this morning I’m going to talk to him… he is relaxed, he is good.

“You can feel it is his life, he knows what he’s doing, he knows what he has to do in the future.”

Piastri will be looking to complete his triple triumph in the final two rounds of F2, scheduled for Jeddah Street Circuit and Yas Marina Circuit in December.

Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou is 36 points behind in second and has a seat in F1 to look forward to next year, having signed with Alfa Romeo to partner Valtteri Bottas.

Piastri’s best opportunity to make the step up could come in 2023, as current Alpine driver Fernando Alonso will be at the end of his contract which was recently extended by one year to the end of the 2022 season.

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