Alpine’s Piastri joins McLaren’s pool of reserve drivers

McLaren can now call upon the services of Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri if they require a stand-in for Daniel Ricciardo or Lando Norris, following the agreement of a new deal between the two teams.

The British team already have an arrangement with Mercedes, which allows them to borrow Stoffel Vandoorne or Nyck de Vries.

INTERVIEW: Oscar Piastri on why his year on the sidelines is a statement of intent from Alpine

And they also have an agreement with former Force India driver Paul Di Resta to act as a stand-in as possible.

Following talks with Alpine, which are believed to have gone on for several weeks, a deal has been reached to allow Piastri to join that pool of reserves.

“In the spirit of offering maximum racing opportunities to our stable of young talent, we have agreed that McLaren may call upon BWT Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver Oscar Piastri in the event one of their drivers is unable to race,” tweeted Alpine.

Daniel Ricciardo is currently isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. That’s ruled him out of the Official Pre-Season Test in Bahrain, but he is feeling better and expected to be fit to race in the season opener at the same venue next weekend.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo tests positive for Covid-19 – but set to be released in time for Bahrain GP

It is understood that the news that Piastri could be made available should McLaren require him is not in reaction to Ricciardo’s absence.

Piastri, who won the F2 championship last year, is not in a full-time seat this season, and is instead understudy to two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his team mate Esteban Ocon at Alpine.

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