Oscar Piastri was a candidate for a Williams 2023 race seat, according to team principal and CEO Jost Capito.
Piastri was caught up in the primary F1 contract dispute during summer as Alpine and McLaren battled for his services before the Contract Recognition Board decided in the Woking-based outfit’s favor.
The 21-year-old Australian was thought to have been placed at Williams to make his F1 debut in 2023 and perhaps a second season in 2024 had Alpine kept both Fernando Alonso and Piastri.
“We talked to a couple of drivers for 2023 so we had a couple of options,” Capito responded when asked if there had been discussions with Piastri. “Oscar could have been an option but that was in the early stage of the season just to check out what type of options were available for ’23.”
Given that Nicholas Latifi is unable to match Alex Albon’s results in the FW44, the Canadian’s future in Formula 1 is now in trouble due to negotiations with other drivers.
Capito detailed what Latifi must perform in the final eight races to stay with the squad.
“He has to show his potential,” Capito said. “We believe he has the potential… What he showed in Silverstone and Hungary was great there. Last week [in Belgium] wasn’t that good so he has got another chance this week to prove what he is capable of.”
