“For Me It Wasn’t a Goal To Reach F1…”: Daniel Ricciardo Replacement Oscar Piastri Opens Up on 1-in-20 Opportunity

The Australian Oscar Piastri is termed a future superstar by many experts. Having won back-to-back three racing crowns on his way up the junior motorsport ladder, he earned the tag. The Melbourne-based driver is super excited to join the F1 grid. In a recent podcast of Pitstop, 21-year-old revealed, it’s really a dream come true moment to be one of the 20 drivers on the track.

Mclaren won the contract battle against rival team Alpine, which led the reigning Formula two champion to join Mclaren for next two seasons.. He will be the man to take over the compatriot Daniel Ricciardo. After two disappointing seasons at Mclaren, the Honey Badger will leave the British racing team. Looking at the caliber, 21-year-old kid possess, the Mclaren’s really have high expectations from him.

Oscar Piastri feels that it is a dream come true moment for him, “I think for me it wasn’t a goal to reach F1, it was more of a dream to reach to F1. It was more when I got to the back end of F2 where I was like ok this dream is not such a dream anymore.” said Piastri . He feels quite excited to be one of the top 20 drivers to race on an F1 track. He said, “To know I’m one of 20 Drivers in the world that does this as a job. I mean, driving an F1 car is not a job. It’s freakin awesome.” 

READ MORE: Despite Signing Oscar Piastri to Replace Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren Set to Hand Out Official F1 Taste to Two IndyCar Drivers

Piastri, was managed by former Australian F1 star Mark Webber. He had been Alpine’s reserve driver but said he didn’t want to take up the place vacated by Fernando Alonso next season.

Oscar Piastri Opens up why He left Alpine and joined Mclaren

The dispute began when Sebastian Vettel announced he will retire after 2022. This vacate a seat at Aston Martin, and two time world champion Fernando Alonso decided join Aston Martin and leave Alpine. On discovering that Alonso intended to leave, Alpine announced they were promoting Piastri, had the Spaniard taken the offer, it would have meant Piastri would not drive an Alpine in 2023 or maybe not even in 2024. So the Melbourne driver and his team decided to look elsewhere to secure a seat.

There surfing stopped at Mclaren. Piastri told the reason behind joining the British constructors, ” The CRB ruling has confirmed I didn’t have a contract for the 2023 season [with Alpine]. I felt McLaren was a great opportunity. They were very straightforward and very keen and enthusiastic to have me.”

The reigning Formula 2 champion revealed why he left Alpine, “To be completely honest, there was a lack of clarity around my future at the team at Alpine, and ultimately a breakdown in trust.” Said the 21 year old

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It’ll be quite interesting to see how the reigning F2 champion will perform in the big boys’ racing. Do you think he can be a perfect replacement for the Honey Badger?