PR blunder in IndyCar, Palou signs with McLaren: 'I did not approve that'

McLaren has announced that IndyCar champion Alex Palou has signed a contract with McLaren Racing for 2023. However, Palou's current team had other plans.

Palou's team, Chip Ganassi Racing, announced a few hours before McLaren's announcement that they are extending Palou's contract through 2023. "He is a proven champion and one of the most formidable drivers in the world," the team announces on Twitter.

Hours after the team announced his contract extension, Palou and McLaren shared his new contract with the British team. In a tweet, the IndyCar driver reveals that Ganassi had put out the press release without his permission and that the quote attributed to him in the message was not from him.

"I did not approve that press release, and I did not author or approve that quote. As I have recently informed CGR, for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022. This evening’s unfortunate events aside, I have great respect for the CGR team, and look forward to finishing this season strongly together," Palou writes.

McLaren has announced that Palou will also be part of its Formula 1 test programme together with IndyCar drivers Colton Herta and Pato O'Ward. It is therefore possible that Daniel Ricciardo will have another competitor for his seat. The British team has not yet specified in which series Palou will drive, but it seems that the Spaniard will continue to race in the IndyCar series alongside O'Ward for Arrow McLaren.

"We have always said that we want the best talent at McLaren, and it’s exciting to be able to include Alex on that list. I’m also looking forward to seeing him get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car as part of our Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program alongside Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta as we continue to build our driver talent," CEO Zak Brown reveals in the press release.