Alex Palou will not fulfil his contract with McLaren in the IndyCar Series – The brand now wants to take legal action
McLaren has taken legal action against IndyCar star Alex Palou, according to information from ‘Racer.com’. The Spaniard, who is currently fighting for the title for Ganassi, has already signed a contract with the British brand but does not want to fulfil it. In addition, the Spaniard has shown his management the door. Now McLaren is said to have filed a lawsuit in the UK.
But what is it about? According to McLaren managing director Zak Brown, Palou has already received salary advances and even taken on a role as a replacement driver in the British Formula One team. Presumably, the lawsuit is about precisely these advance payments that Palou is said to have already received. “We have made significant investments in Alex Palou,” Brown’s side says.
The McLaren managing director “trusts the authorities and the courts” and assumes that the Spaniard’s case “will be resolved”. McLaren itself is banking on Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi as full-time drivers for the 2023 season. Brown says the focus is now fully on the 2023 season and the plans for 2024, which will be announced soon.
However, the contract chaos surrounding Palou began in 2022 when he signed a pre-contract with McLaren before a clear lockout period. He stayed with Ganassi in 2023 but was then due to change teams. McLaren is said to have already started paying Palou. Then there are the “millions of dollars” for the Formula One test and replacement driver programme. After all, Palou was promised a Formula 1 cockpit.
But what happens next? McLaren will probably have to look for another driver for the IndyCar Series, as Felix Rosenqvist is said to be about to jump ship. Palou is rumoured to be staying at Ganassi, where a multi-year contract with a top IndyCar team beckons. The Spaniard is currently the championship leader and on his way to his second title.