IndyCar driver Alex Palou does not drive for McLaren and is not coming to Formula 1 for the time being. Yet the Spanish driver is being compared to current F1 world champion Max Verstappen. According to Agustín Canapino, Palou is the better driver.

Speaking to Fox Sports Argentina, the Argentine IndyCar driver said, "In my eyes, Palou is more complete than Verstappen. For me, what Palou does in IndyCar is really like being an alien. But it's a very subjective opinion." Canapino, who finished 21st in the 2023 IndyCar Series, goes even further: "Palou is outstanding because, in my opinion, he is the best driver in the world. If he is not the best, he is among the three best." Yet Canapino immediately hedges against criticism from Verstappen fans: "Verstappen is also an alien. Don't let Verstappen's followers criticise me."

Why Palou is better than Verstappen

Spanish IndyCar driver Alex Palou won this year's IndyCar championship for Chip Ganassi Racing's team. The dispute with McLaren began in 2022, when Chip Ganassi Racing and Arrow McLaren, McLaren Racing's IndyCar team, both thought they had a contract with Palou for 2023. This case was eventually settled: Palou remained with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2023 and would join McLaren Formula 1 as a test driver after the IndyCar season. In 2024, Palou would then switch to Arrow McLaren, while remaining a test driver at McLaren F1. But the deal fell apart when Palou announced that he would continue to race at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2024.

McLaren has sued him for breach of contract, reportedly for at least $20 million. That probably means Palou will no longer have to count on an F1 seat at McLaren. Earlier, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said of the Spaniard: "He has certainly shown in IndyCar and his time with us that he is a driver, but I am not sure we will ever find out if he could race in F1."