Alex Palou is fighting McLaren's claim to approximately $21 million dollars in damages. Photo: RacePictures

Palou unleashes defense against McLaren, Alonso plays key role

18:56, 11 Oct

Updated: 22:00, 11 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

IndyCar champion Alex Palou's defense team used McLaren's lack of performance in the American series to fight the British brand's claim that the Spanish driver cost them sponsorship income, showed clearly in Fernando Alonso's Indy500 registered entries, they believe.

According to Palou's defense attorneys, the Spaniard couldn't have had the impact on sponsorship money McLaren claim he would had he joined the British brand's IndyCar venture co-owned with Arrow.

Citing a drivers' potential being unleashed or capped by the quality of the machinery at their disposal as a mitigating factor that would deflate McLaren's alleged sponsorship losses following the Spaniard's reported breach of contract.

Palou said: "If a driver does not have the machinery and the best team around, then that driver cannot win races."

"[There are] many examples of big names in motorsport who were not able to perform because of the machinery they were given".

One of them being, fellow Spaniard, and a F1 landmark driver Fernando Alonso.

"Fernando Alonso is a two-time F1 champion and probably one of the best drivers in the recent era," said Palou. "In fact, many people would say the best.

"In 2019, Fernando tried to qualify for the Indy 500 with McLaren. However, he failed to qualify against a driver who was a rookie and had no previous experience in Indy 500 [Kyle Kaiser].

"In 2017 Fernando qualified for the Indy 500 with another team (Andretti) and almost won until the car broke. In 2020, Fernando finished 21st for the Indy 500 with McLaren."

Alex Palou faces approximately $21 million dollar lawsuit against McLaren. Photo RacePictures

Palou then went on to say that despite having "really good drivers" McLaren's IndyCar prjoect has not gotten championship yielding results. Despite being a three-time on the trot, four-time overall, IndyCar champion, Palou claims his presence in the Arrow-McLaren team wouldn't have resulted in much better outcomes.

He added: "Maybe a driver can in one race do something a little more aggressive, but I do not consider that a driver can during the course of a full year or four or five years have too much impact."

"This has been seen with many other drivers, such as Fernando Alonso."

McLaren vs Palou: Trial still ongoing

The approximately $21 million dollar trial McLaren vs Palou has seen an exchange of hefty blows from one side to another, as message deletion requests and WhatsApp messages were leaked, and Palou's claim that under Brown's leadership McLaren misled him into believing he would have a Formula One seat at one point.

The IndyCar champion also claims that Helmut Marko's interest in him to take up at seat at Red Bull Racing's sister team became diluted following an alleged phone call between Brown and the 81-year-old-Austrian advisor.

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