Rising star Oscar Piastri has his eyes on joining the Formula 1 ranks as soon as next year

Australian motorsport sensation Oscar Piastri has declared his intention to join Daniel Ricciardo in Formula One as soon as next year.

The 20-year-old from Melbourne is the reigning Formula 3 world champion and has set his eyes on taking out the Formula 2 championship this year.

Being managed and mentored by Australian racing great Mark Webber, Piastri said his ambitions to spend two years racing on the second tier had changed.

A race victory in the opening round of the Formula 2 season has emboldened Piastri, who is fourth in the driver standings, to chase his Formula one dream sooner.

“I think I’m definitely going to be pushing to try and get there next year, “ Piastri said.

“With the beginning of the year we’ve had, I think we can definitely set our sights towards the championship now.

“I think we showed at Round 1 that we can definitely fight at the front and fight for the title, so the sooner I can get to F1 the better in my eyes.

“If it doesn’t happen for next year, which is no easy task, I definitely think I can do it after two years of F2. That was the initial plan.”

Australian F1 legend Mark Webber and his manager wife Ann Webber have signed rising star Oscar PiastriSource:Supplied

Piastri told the Fast Lane podcast he was “starstruck” when he first linked up with Webber, but had settled in to a relationship which was working positively for his driving future.

“During the race weekends it’s much more about any little advice specific to the race or that weekend,” Piastri said.

“Then away from the race weekend, it’s much more about the big picture.”

Oscar Piastri (AUS) Renault Sport Academy Driver. RS18 Bahrain RSA Test, Friday 30th October 2020. Sakhir, Bahrain.Source:Supplied

Piastri has tested an F1 car and despite taking out the Formula 2 world title the year after winning the Formula Renault crown, he said he wasn’t feeling any pressure to get to the top level.

“It was definitely a big step from F3, a lot to factor in. In most people’s eyes I am coming in as a rookie and the expectations and probably lower,” he said.

“I have quashed that after the first round I hope.

“I’ve got a few more eyes looking at me, expecting good things, but I couldn’t say it has affected me negatively.

“There’s not a whole heap of pressure to move up after this year. But with the momentum I have, two world championships in a row, if I can get a third, that would help my prospects I would think.”

Piastri will next race in Monaco, where Webber won twice.

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