| Just a week after a contractual tug of war over IndyCar champion Alex Palou, now it is Formula 1’s turn to take centre stage with the Alpine-Oscar Piastri saga. Alpine announced on Tuesday that its hugely-promising F2 champion, who was sidelined this year while he waited for his opportunity, would replace Fernando Alonso in its team next season. But rumours that Piastri had something signed with McLaren were effectively confirmed when he took to social media to say he hadn’t signed anything with Alpine to race in 2023. Like the Palou case, it’s all a bit embarrassing… The timing of Fernando Alonso’s shock exit to Aston Martin on August 1, and Alpine’s hurried Piastri release a day later, makes one wonder if the timing is crucial here. Options often lapse, or need to be publicly announced, by the end of a month – before another contract (with a rival team) can be signed or take effect. And the end of July can be a key date in 'silly season'. Lawyers will argue each side’s case and a Contract Recognition Board judgement will be made on the validity of Alpine’s claim. The likely outcome? I’d hazard a guess at Daniel Ricciardo wearing blue next year and Piastri in papaya-orange. By: Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief
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