Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc feels that Formula 2 championship leader Oscar Piastri deserves to receive the opportunity to drive in Formula 1 “very soon”.
The 20-year-old Australian racing driver has gained an impressive lead in the Formula 2 standings despite the fact that 2021 is his first season in the series and could clinch a hat-trick of titles after back-to-back crowns in Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula 3.
The Alpine Academy member would become the third driver to win both F3 and F2 championships as a rookie – after Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’s new driver for next season, signing George Russell.
Yet Oscar Piastri’s name has not been linked to any Formula One team for the 2022 season and it has been widely expected that his fellow Alpine protege and F2 rival Guanyu Zhou will get the chance to drive for Alfa Romeo next year, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi.
Piastri drives for Charles Leclerc’s old F2 team Prema and the Monegasque driver, who still follows F2, gave the Alpine protege a ringing endorsement.
“He is a very, very talented driver. I obviously look at all the F2 races and he’s incredibly consistent, always there when he needs to be. It is impressive and he definitely has the merit to be in F1. I really hope for him [to get a seat] – he should be in F1. So, I really hope he will be very soon.” – the Ferrari driver said.
“It is a difficult one. I wouldn’t do it as an automatic move, that you win F2 and you go to F1 because this wouldn’t be fair in some cases. But it’s also pretty clear once a driver deserves it. Oscar it’s his first year in F2 and [it looks likely] he wins it straight away – that has been the case for other drivers, too. I don’t think there needs to be a rule for it. It’s quite obvious that some F2 winners need to get a seat.” – Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc concluded.
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