Ocon speaks encouragement to teammate: 'He is a great guy'

Oscar Piastri seemed to have a good chance of competing in Formula 1 in 2022 at the end of last year. However, the teams opted for other drivers, so the Australian is reserve driver at Alpine this season. Esteban Ocon is nevertheless confident that things will work out with his teammate.

Piastri experienced successful seasons in motorsport in recent years. In 2020 he managed to win Formula 3, after which he made the switch to Formula 2. That too proved to be no problem for the driver. He also managed to win that championship.

Then he hoped that there would be a Formula 1 team that would like to work with him. However, that turned out not to be the case. Although Alfa Romeo and Williams, among others, changed drivers, no one decided to make a move. As a result, Piastri is working behind the scenes at Alpine this season, which so far has collected 22 points and is in fifth place in the constructors' championship.

"Oscar is a great guy," Ocon says in an interview with Motorsportweek.com. "I’m very sure he’s going to have a seat in Formula 1 shortly. I don’t know where in the paddock, but opportunity comes for the ones who deserve it."