Ganassi and McLaren reach agreement in dispute over Alex Palou: He will continue to drive IndyCar for his current team and test F1 at the same time – Felix Rosenqvist remains with McLaren SP
Last Sunday, Alex Palou won the 2022 IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca Raceway in convincing style. Although last year’s champion’s only win of the season was drowned out in the jubilation surrounding new champion Will Power, Palou still has every reason to celebrate.
Three days after the victory, Palou revealed via Twitter that he will continue to race for Chip Ganassi Racing in the IndyCar Series in 2023 and will continue to drive the 10 Ganassi Honda. This was immediately confirmed by the team.
This means that Palou’s move to McLaren, which had been mooted since July, is off the table at least for the coming IndyCar season. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old Spaniard is joining the McLaren empire, because he will immediately complete Formula 1 tests with a 2021 car, a McLaren MCL35M, as Andretti’s IndyCar driver Colton Herta has already done recently.
“I am pleased to announce that Chip Ganassi Racing and I have come to an agreement and I will be back in the 10 car next season. I’m looking forward to a big year in 2023,” Palou said via Twitter on Wednesday.
I’m excited to announce that @CGRTeams and I have come to an agreement and I’ll be back in the No. 10 car next season!
Looking forward to a BIG 2023! pic.twitter.com/wIhaPdYj9q
– Alex Palou Montalbo (@AlexPalou) September 14, 2022
The accompanying tweet from the Ganassi team, which was written six minutes after Palou’s tweet in response, succinctly reads, “Let’s go!!!”
A Ganassi statement reads, “Alex Palou will remain in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing car for the 2023 IndyCar season. The agreement gives him the opportunity to test cars in different race series, provided it does not directly conflict with his IndyCar commitments. “
Parallel to Ganassi deal: Alex Palou to test F1 for McLaren
This means Ganassi will give the 2021 IndyCar champion the chance to test Formula 1 for McLaren. What’s more, according to a McLaren release also issued on Wednesday, Palou has “commenced his first test today”.
This is the team’s reference to a test in Barcelona, where Palou will be joined by McLaren’s IndyCar driver Patricio O’Ward driving the 2021 McLaren MCL35M.
Palou himself confirmed in a second tweet, which read, “I am also grateful to Chip Ganassi Racing for allowing me to pursue my Formula 1 testing for McLaren outside of my IndyCar commitments. “
Just before the Toronto weekend of the IndyCar Series, Palou had made waves by denying a contract extension already announced by Ganassi at the time and instead made public a move to McLaren. As a result, Ganassi filed a civil suit against Palou shortly afterwards.
Exactly how Ganassi and McLaren have now come to an agreement is currently unclear. The fact is: now that Ganassi is sticking with Palou as an IndyCar regular for another year, McLaren SP announces that they are sticking with Felix Rosenqvist for another year.
Felix Rosenqvist to stay with McLaren SP
Rosenqvist’s reaction in Wednesday’s McLaren announcement: “There is no better way to start the winter break than with this news. I love this team and I am so happy to continue working with all these incredible people I have met over the past two seasons. “
We are ready to bring our A-game in 2023! So happy to continue working with everyone at @ArrowMcLarenSP next year. pic.twitter.com/OczXD8NO4M
– Felix Rosenqvist (@FRosenqvist) September 14, 2022
Rosenqvist is the one who would have had to give way at McLaren SP in the event of a Palou change. Patricio “Pato” O’Ward has a long-term contract. Alexander Rossi joins McLaren SP as a newcomer from Andretti Andretti. Now that Rosenqvist has also been confirmed, it is clear: McLaren SP will compete in the 2023 IndyCar season as a three-car team with O’Ward, Rossi, Rosenqvist.
McLaren boss Zak Brown says: “I am delighted that Felix will be driving for Arrow McLaren SP again in 2023. He had a strong 2022 season and I look forward to seeing what he, Alex Rossi and Pato O’Ward can achieve when they team up in papaya colours. It’s also great to have Alex Palou join the McLaren Racing family in our testing programme with previous [Formula 1] cars. “
