IndyCar chief Alex Palou has ‘no intention of honoring his contract’ with McLaren upcoming period,’ workforce claims
Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist have been talked about as replacements Palou rebuked Chip Ganassi Racing’s try to pick up the alternative for 2023 DailyMail.com presents all the newest global athletics information
The lengthy contractual saga surrounding IndyCar championship chief Alex Palou took a different wild twist Friday when the head of McLaren Racing informed his workforce the Spaniard has ‘no intention of honoring his contract’ with the team next calendar year.
In a letter sent to the Arrow McLaren Racing workforce by boss Zak Brown, a duplicate of which was acquired by The Connected Press, Brown wrote that Palou experienced provided him numerous assurances he’d be putting on papaya in 2024 and has currently received an progress on his wage.
The letter was sent to McLaren staff shortly following Friday’s last IndyCar Series on-track session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Final July, Palou shockingly entered the free agent market when he publicly rebuked Chip Ganassi Racing’s endeavor to select up the choice Ganassi held on him for 2023.
Palou reported he as an alternative was joining both equally McLaren’s IndyCar application and had a System One particular contract.
Alex Palou has made a decision to tell McLaren Racing he will not join their workforce at the year’s close
Alexander Rossi and Felix Rosenqvist have been pointed out as prospective replacements
Ganassi fought it and the sides settled with Palou remaining in IndyCar with Ganassi this year, but tests as a reserve driver for McLaren on his off weekends.
He was slated to be a part of McLaren whole-time at the conclude of this IndyCar season, and was in comprehensive McLaren papaya-colored equipment at Components One’s Miami Grand Prix in May perhaps.
Palou is presently closing in on his next IndyCar title in a few yrs driving for Ganassi. The 26-yr-previous Spaniard is in his fourth year of IndyCar – three with Ganassi – but has lengthy held F1 ambitions.
‘This is very disappointing thinking about the motivation he has created to us each right and publicly and our sizeable expenditure in him primarily based on that determination,’ Brown wrote to his workforce.
‘We devoted a great deal of time, money and sources planning to welcome Alex into our group since we thought in him and were seeking forward to IndyCar wins with him. Coming out of his team dispute final drop, we have been certain by Alex of his motivation to Arrow McLaren mirrored in the agreement he entered into with us.’
Pato O’ Ward is also on McLaren’s checklist of possible replacement for Palou following period
Brown mentioned he has been reassured by Palou several situations because this year’s Indianapolis 500 in May perhaps that he would be with McLaren subsequent year.
For the reason that of all those promises, Brown wrote ‘we have paid out him a major to start with payment toward his 2024 period in addition to the tens of millions of pounds toward establishing him in our System 1 testing method and in his reserve driver position with a opportunity travel in F1 in the long run.’
Brown wrote that the McLaren expects Palou to honor his contract with the staff, but will pursue 2024 driver lineup choices as the dispute is settled.
McLaren at present fields IndyCar teams for Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi.