Aussie motorsport star wins Formula 2 world championship in huge boost to his chances of joining Daniel Ricciardo in F1
- Oscar Piastri, 20, crowned world champ after finishing third in Abu Dhabi
- It's the Australian's third straight junior racing championship victory
- The Melburnian will be a reserve driver for the Alpine F1 team next year
Young Australian driver Oscar Piastri has clinched the Formula 2 world title in style.
The 20-year-old from Melbourne wrapped up the crown on the penultimate day of the season with a cool tactical drive to finish third in Saturday's first 23-lap sprint race at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi.
Piastri's Prema Racing teammate Robert Schwartzman was the only driver left with a chance at the title.
But Piastri was quickly on his back wheel after starting 10th on the grid - from a reverse top 10 start - and tracked him relentlessly as Schwartzman moved through the field.
While he didn't need to, Piastri fought his way past Schwartzman with three laps remaining to secure a podium finish as the Russian finished fourth.
Piastri (in black, left) triumphed in Abu Dhabi with his third-place finish securing the F2 title at the tender age of 20 - but his incredible talent hasn't netted him an F1 drive... yet
The Melbourne ace had already earned five victories in this year's championship and has now achieved the extraordinary feat of winning a third straight junior championship following his F3 title last year and the Formula Renault Eurocup from 2019.
"I am super happy," said Piastri. What a race to clinch it in.
"I wanted to get onto the podium to do some good celebrating."
Long tipped for Formula One stardom, Piastri will have to bide his time next year when he will be reserve driver for the Alpine Formula One team, having been unable to secure a driver spot for 2022 despite his obvious talent.
"It has been an awesome three years," said Piastri said, lauding the support from his team.
"Hopefully I can be champion of sitting on the couch next year."
The Melburnian has now won three straight junior racing championships - an extraordinary feat that will see him serve as a reserve driver for the Alpine F1 team in 2023
It's Piastri's dream to follow in the footsteps of Aussie Formula One gun Daniel Ricciardo (pictured) - and he's well on his way to making that a reality
Piastri can add to his season win tally in another sprint race before the season-ending feature race on Sunday, in which he will start from pole position, having topped qualifying for a fifth consecutive round.
Starting from second position in the feature race with be fellow young Australian Jack Doohan, who is fresh from finishing runner up in the Formula 3 championship.
The 18-year-old son of motorcycle racing great Mick Doohan produced a remarkable performance in only his second qualifying session in F2, outpacing all of his more experienced rivals except Piastri on Friday.
Of his dramatic introduction to the F2 world, Doohan said: "There was a little bit to get used to in terms of the turbo and you have to focus on the carbon brakes, but other than that a car is a car.
"I think if you're good enough you can get to grips with it quite quickly."
As for the prospect of winning in only his second F2 race, he shrugged: "I don't really know, I don't have any goals.
"This still isn't really my time at the moment. If everything goes well, any result is going to be a bonus, but the focus is for next year."
