For Alex Palou, 2022 was an eventful season. It started with a title defence in IndyCar, then a lawsuit filed by his own team Chip Ganassi and ended with his Formula 1 weekend debut for McLaren. In conversation with The Race he looks back and looks ahead.

There was a two-month period during which all kinds of scenarios for Palou's future were reviewed. The end result is that he will continue to drive IndyCar at Ganassi this year, but will also be the reserve driver at McLaren. The outcome that has now been devised is therefore ideal for the Spaniard. A reserve role for the whole season would have meant long days and nights in the simulator, travelling to race weekends and being on standby, but all with no guarantee of actually driving.

Perfect scenario

"Both Chip Ganassi and McLaren were able to give me everything I wanted and it's the perfect scenario for me," Palou told The Race.

"And the perfect scenario for me is to race in an IndyCar with one of the best teams, try to win the championship again, and if successful, be part of a Formula One team, because I learned a lot with the car, but also outside the car. "

Palou is aware that it is an opportunity he might only get this year and not in 2024, so he's trying to grab it with both hands and wants to learn as much as he can. "Maybe some of the things I learnt can help me win the next IndyCar championship."

Impressed

There was speculation that Palou was already set for the reserve driver role at McLaren back in September, but at the time his future was settled out of court between Ganassi and McLaren. However, the Spaniard dismissed this story to the realm of fantasy and reports that the choice was made based on his work in Barcelona and during the test at the Red Bull Ring in the 2021 McLaren car and his test apparently made a good impression.

"Being part of IndyCar and being part of Chip Ganassi Racing, it's just great. So yeah, I think about it every day. Super happy!"

Finally, Palou says he cannot wait to put last year's woes behind him and can focus on winning another IndyCar title. Since he wanted to drive at McLaren before 2023, that should now be a goal for 2024. Time will tell if McLaren's offer to take on a role as a reserve driver is meant to prepare for a possible future with the team.