What now for F1 'silly season'? Piastri the focal point amid Alpine fiasco

Formula 1's driver market has erupted into high drama following Oscar Piastri's extraordinary Alpine snub, which leaves the French team in limbo, and us with plenty of questions about what's next for 2023.

'Silly season' has well and truly arrived, so let's explain how we got here via some Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso bombshells, a shock rejection and how McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo are right in the thick of it...

We have long known that all three of the top teams have their line-ups filled for 2023, while a news-heavy Hungarian GP weekend gave us more confirmation about next season's grid.

Sebastian Vettel's retirement opened up a space at Aston Martin, which they promptly, and surprisingly, filled with another multiple world champion in Fernando Alonso.

That freed up a space at Alpine, one they thought they had their own quick solution for when announcing the promotion of Oscar Piastri - although the highly-rated Australian hit back to insist he would not be driving there.

To add to the circus (which we will explain below), there could also be a spot open at McLaren, where Daniel Ricciardo is adamant he has a watertight contract for 2023 but the team's management have hinted at having options.

On paper at least, Alpine is the best available seat in F1, while the Williams opening appears the next most attainable.

Alonso's shock departure from Alpine to Aston Martin, who are currently five places and 79 points worse off in the championship, was down to a contract dispute, with the Silverstone outfit more willing to give the 41-year-old the multi-year deal he desired.

It certainly came as a surprise to Alpine, although also appeared to solve one of their issues. The Renault-owned team had already been sweating