McLaren celebrates winning the constructors' in Singapore - Photo: Race Pictures

Former McLaren driver feels lied to by Zak Brown

09:13, 10 Oct

Updated: 10:00, 10 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Alex Palou has explained why he feels he was strung along by McLaren CEO Zak Brown testifying at the High Court in London yesterday.

"When testing with McLaren [...] Zak told me he believed we could make it happen and that he would give me all the preparation I needed to get to F1. At the time I thought he was genuine.”

- Alex Palou

IndyCar champion and Indy 500 winner Alex Palou agreed to join McLaren’s IndyCar team for the 2023 season, with the potential to move to the Formula 1 team.

He was scheduled to join McLaren in the American series for the 2024 season. However, the Spaniard decided to breach his McLaren contract and remain with Chip Ganassi Racing.

"I was very upset, worried and angry that McLaren had signed another rookie driver other than me," Palou said referring to Oscar Piastri, who made his F1 debut in 2023.

"On September 22 they had a conversation with Zak, and Zak had told them they needed someone who would be quick in 2023, [...] but that this would not interfere with my chances to get into F1."

According to the Spaniard, it was McLaren who initially approached him. After consulting with advisor Daniele Audero, he instructed his management to tell Brown he would only be interested in joining the team’s Formula 1 project.

IndyCar driver Alex Palou is currently locked in a legal dispute with McLaren - Photo: Race Pictures

“The only attraction was to go to F1. My ambition was because it is the biggest single-seater series in the world.

"When testing with McLaren [...] Zak told me he believed we could make it happen and that he would give me all the preparation I needed to get to F1. At the time I thought he was genuine.”

Palou then explained he had dinner with Brown after the team signed current F1 championship leader Oscar Piastri. The driver explained the American told him it was Andreas Seidl's decision to bring the Australian in.

"Zak told me Piastri’s performance would be evaluated against mine for 2024. Zak said that, from his point of view my chance of getting the F1 seat was not affected by Oscar.

"However, I knew everything had changed. From that point on, I started to be more willing to stay with CGR in the future."

Brown testified on Tuesday

The McLaren CEO appeared at the High Court on 7 October, where he testified that he had ‘never strung along’ Palou in a case where the team is suing the Spaniard for $21 million..

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"I never told him he would be under consideration for 2023 ... there was some optionality to join F1," he said.

Palou drove a single free practice session with McLaren in 2022 at the Circuit of the Americas. The Spaniard won his fourth IndyCar title this season.

The case continues.

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