Brown confirms: 'Palou and O'Ward drive free practice this year'

McLaren CEO Zak Brown will still field both Alex Palou and Pato O'Ward in a Grand Prix weekend this year. The two drivers both race in IndyCar and will therefore also have the chance to gain more F1 mileage in 2023. McLaren will field both drivers in free practice, Brown stated in an interview with Speedweek.

Palou and O'Ward currently drive in the IndyCar class, where Palou even leads the championship. Both drivers have driven a McLaren during a Formula 1 session before; Palou competed at FP1 in Austin in 2022, O'Ward drove the young driver test for the team in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this week, incidentally, rumours also emerged that Palou is in the interest of two Formula 1 teams.

'Palou and O'Ward both drive free practice this year'

Brown comments: "We have not yet made a final decision [on which sessions the drivers will drive], but we have to have two sessions driven by rookies anyway. After the IndyCar runs its last race in September, we will give Palou and O'Ward both this opportunity." The McLaren CEO further also sees that both drivers definitely have the potential to drive Formula 1 in the future:"I see no reason why they can't. We don't have a seat free ourselves at the moment, but I am absolutely convinced they both have Formula One potential. Alex [Palou] dominates the IndyCars, but also Pato [O'Ward] could even become a champion."

From 2022, it will be mandatory for every team to have a rookie driver drive two sessions a year. Mercedes previously confirmed that Frederik Vesti would account for one free practice, so the sessions will in all likelihood be filled by McLaren's two IndyCar drivers.