“I am too old to wait”: Alex Palou, 2023 IndyCar champion, on F1 dreams shattered amid contractual woes with McLaren
Alex Palou’s dream of joining Formula 1 came to an abrupt end as he faced contract problems and legal disputes. The 2023 IndyCar champion expressed his disappointment with the following words: “I’m too old now to wait and see and wait for someone to get injured so I can get my chance in F1.”
Palou revealed in an interview with The Associated Press that he was trying to win a place in Formula 1 by cooperating with McLaren and making great efforts, amid a contract war between the Ganassi and McLaren teams. But now he thinks his F1 ambitions have collapsed.
“Despite all this dedicated work with McLaren in the hope of securing a seat in Formula 1, there was no sign to me that anything would open up,” said Palou, especially after the simulator tests.
The Spanish pilot, who won his second IndyCar championship in 2023, is at the center of a contract dispute between Ganassi and McLaren teams. Although he initially stated that he wanted to move to Arrow McLaren SP in 2023, Ganassi’s contract option led to a process of mediation and agreement and a deal was struck that provided Palou with the opportunity to become a reserve driver for the F1 team.
Palou then changed his mind and decided to stay with Ganassi for the 2023 season, where he dominated the field in IndyCar. This move resulted in a lawsuit in which McLaren sought significant damages. Palou’s legal response acknowledged the breach but sought to quantify damages and sought to distract from an amount he would have difficulty paying.
Although McLaren appointed Pato O’Ward as their F1 reserve driver following Palou’s departure, the 26-year-old IndyCar driver appears unaffected. Palou said: “We will fight for as many championships if possible, and we will fight for as many championships and the Indianapolis 500 if possible.”
As admitted by Palou himself, his focus remains on the difficulties with Ganassi Racing. Palou, who found a spot in the Daytona Rolex 24 at the last minute, drove the Cadillac V-Series.R No. for Cadillac Racing amidst all the contract wrangling. He demonstrated his skills by recording the fastest lap in the night session with 01.
At a time when his Formula 1 dreams have collapsed, Alex Palou continues to shine on the IndyCar circuit, focusing on future races. Although the Spaniard has been hampered by contractual hurdles, he remains determined to overcome difficulties and achieve success.
