IndyCar chief Alex Palou has ‘no intention of honoring his contract’ with McLaren next season,’ group says
Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist have been described as replacements Palou rebuked Chip Ganassi Racing’s try to decide on up the alternative for 2023 DailyMail.com presents all the most up-to-date global sports news
The extended contractual saga encompassing IndyCar championship chief Alex Palou took an additional wild twist Friday when the head of McLaren Racing advised his crew the Spaniard has ‘no intention of honoring his contract’ with the workforce next 12 months.
In a letter despatched to the Arrow McLaren Racing employees by manager Zak Brown, a copy of which was received by The Affiliated Press, Brown wrote that Palou experienced specified him many assurances he’d be sporting papaya in 2024 and has previously gained an progress on his wage.
The letter was sent to McLaren workforce soon just after Friday’s last IndyCar Series on-observe session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Past July, Palou shockingly entered the no cost agent marketplace when he publicly rebuked Chip Ganassi Racing’s try to decide on up the option Ganassi held on him for 2023.
Palou mentioned he as an alternative was joining each McLaren’s IndyCar program and experienced a Formulation 1 deal.
Alex Palou has decided to tell McLaren Racing he will not join their staff at the year’s close
Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist have been pointed out as opportunity replacements
Ganassi fought it and the sides settled with Palou remaining in IndyCar with Ganassi this 12 months, but testing as a reserve driver for McLaren on his off weekends.
He was slated to sign up for McLaren entire-time at the conclusion of this IndyCar season, and was in comprehensive McLaren papaya-coloured gear at Method One’s Miami Grand Prix in May.
Palou is at the moment closing in on his next IndyCar title in three a long time driving for Ganassi. The 26-calendar year-previous Spaniard is in his fourth year of IndyCar – three with Ganassi – but has extended held F1 ambitions.
‘This is very disappointing contemplating the motivation he has made to us each immediately and publicly and our significant expenditure in him primarily based on that determination,’ Brown wrote to his personnel.
‘We devoted a good deal of time, dollars and sources getting ready to welcome Alex into our team due to the fact we believed in him and had been looking ahead to IndyCar wins with him. Coming out of his crew dispute previous drop, we were being assured by Alex of his dedication to Arrow McLaren reflected in the agreement he entered into with us.’
Pato O’ Ward is also on McLaren’s record of probable substitute for Palou up coming time
Brown stated he has been reassured by Palou a number of times since this year’s Indianapolis 500 in May well that he would be with McLaren future 12 months.
Since of those promises, Brown wrote ‘we have paid out him a important to start with payment toward his 2024 season in addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars towards building him in our Formula 1 tests software and in his reserve driver purpose with a possible push in F1 in the long run.’
Brown wrote that the McLaren expects Palou to honor his contract with the crew, but will pursue 2024 driver lineup alternatives as the dispute is settled.
McLaren presently fields IndyCar teams for Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi.