Palou: Zak Brown told me we could make Formula 1 happen

Palou, who won this year’s Indianapolis 500, said in a witness statement that he now felt Formula One was used by McLaren, the current F1 champions, as a “negotiating tactic” to persuade him to sign for their less competitive IndyCar team.

McLaren Racing are seeking around $20 million from the 28-year-old after he backed out of a move three years ago and remained with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR). The driver has admitted breach of contract but argues he owes nothing.

Palou explained in court: “My motivation in signing the March 2022 McLaren contract was that I had just won my first IndyCar championship... and I thought it was still a good time in my young career to get to F1 and try and have a chance there. After I won the IndyCar championship, I thought it would be tough but feasible to get a chance in F1.”

Palou said everything changed at McLaren when Australian Oscar Piastri, the current F1 championship leader, announced on Twitter that he was replacing compatriot Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 season.

Despite that, Palou signed another contract with McLaren after being assured by team boss Zak Brown that Formula 1 remained a possibility. The Spaniard recalled: “Zak told me in various conversations we had in person.

"Including during the time I was testing with McLaren at the track in September and October 2022, that he really loves IndyCar and wanted to get a driver from IndyCar to F1. Zak told me he believed we could make it happen and that he would give me all the preparation I needed to be an F1 driver for McLaren.”

Palou said Brown told him over dinner in October 2022 that it was not his decision to sign Piastri, previously reserve driver for Renault-owned Alpine, but that of now-departed principal Andreas Seidl: “Zak told me that Oscar’s performance would be evaluated against mine for the 2024 seat."

Palou added that he spoke with Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko in June 2023 about a possible drive with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) as his McLaren hopes faded. The Austrian asked how much it would cost to get a release from McLaren, but, after speaking with Brown, lost interest.

Brown, attending the hearing after being questioned on Tuesday and Wednesday, smiled and occasionally shook his head during the session.

Accused by McLaren’s counsel Paul Goulding of being the one stringing the team along and signing an IndyCar contract he had no intention of fulfilling, Palou replied: “Absolutely not. I think you’re twisting the story.”

He added that while CGR would be paying his legal costs, his salary was reduced accordingly and was not among the top three in IndyCar. The hearing will resume on October 20, with closing submissions due on November 5. (