Palou was advised McLaren F1 deal “might occur”, Brown denies stringing him alongside

Alex Palou has claimed that Zak Brown advised him he might assist discover him a seat in Method 1, however the McLaren Racing boss insists he by no means made any guarantees or misled the motive force.

The long-running dispute between Palou and McLaren reached the UK Excessive Courtroom this week, with the Woking-based squad suing the IndyCar star for over $20 million for breaching their contract.

In July 2022, each Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren had introduced competing claims over Palou's companies for the next IndyCar season.

After a number of months of negotiation, the events reached an settlement that allowed Palou to stay with Chip Ganassi for the 2023 season whereas additionally serving as a take a look at and growth driver for McLaren's F1 crew.

Beneath the association, he would have left CGR to hitch McLaren's IndyCar operation in 2024, giving each side a compromise they have been proud of.

Nonetheless, Palou finally determined to stay at CGR in 2024, claiming he had misplaced religion in McLaren's capability to supply him a seat in F1.

Because the matter proceeded to the UK Excessive Courtroom, each side supplied additional particulars concerning the circumstances main as much as their break up, as they proceed to dispute the extent of damages owed.

In his witness assertion, the Indy 500 winner claimed that Brown had given him hope that an F1 seat would possibly develop into obtainable in 2024.

“When testing with McLaren, Zak advised me he believed we might make it occur, and that he would give me all of the preparation I wanted to get to F1,” he mentioned in court docket, as reported by Motor Sport Journal. “On the time I assumed he was real.”

‘Brown didn't make Piastri choice'

As McLaren's contract with Daniel Ricciardo neared its finish after the 2022 season, McLaren lured rising Australian star Oscar Piastri away from Alpine and signed him to accomplice Lando Norris for 2023.

Palou has alleged that Brown reassured him Piastri's arrival wouldn't have an effect on his personal probabilities of securing a future F1 seat, however by that time he was already getting the sense that his alternative in F1 was slipping away.

“I went for dinner with Zak close to MTC [McLaren Technology Centre],” mentioned Palou. “Zak advised me it was not his choice to rent Oscar. He mentioned it was the choice of [then] crew supervisor Andreas Seidl.

“Zak advised me Piastri's efficiency could be evaluated towards mine for 2024. Zak mentioned that, from his viewpoint, my probability of getting the F1 seat was not affected by Oscar.

“Nonetheless, I knew the whole lot had modified. From that time on, I began to be extra keen to stick with CGR sooner or later.”

Brown's denial

Earlier this week, Brown denied giving Palou any assurances a couple of seat in McLaren's grand prix crew.

“I advised him what the alternatives could be in F1,” mentioned Brown. “I by no means advised him he could be into consideration.”

When Palou's counsel Nick De Marco accused Brown of stringing the Spaniard alongside in the identical court docket session, Brown replied: “I by no means strung alongside Alex. I by no means advised him he could be into consideration for 2023. There was some optionality to hitch F1.”

Palou's response to Piastri's announcement

Palou additionally described how he felt after F2 champion Piastri was introduced as McLaren's second driver for the 2023 season.

This occurred previous to CGR and McLaren reaching an settlement for 2023, and earlier than the second dispute between him and the crew unfolded the next yr.

“I used to be very upset, apprehensive and offended that McLaren had signed one other rookie driver aside from me,” he mentioned  “I requested MIM (Monaco Enhance Administration) to talk to Zak to ask what was happening.

“On September 22 they'd a dialog with Zak, and Zak had advised them they wanted somebody who could be fast in 2023, however that this might not intrude with my probabilities to get into F1.”

AlphaTauri alternative

Palou was seen as a possible possibility for AlphaTauri because the squad sought a brand new driver for the 2024 season.

Talking on Thursday, the four-time IndyCar champion claimed that the Faenza squad misplaced curiosity in hiring him after a non-public assembly between Purple Bull advisor Helmut Marko and Brown.

“There had been some rumours within the media about AlphaTauri on the lookout for a F1 driver and my title was within the combine,” he mentioned.

“In June 2023, I contacted and had a dialog over the telephone with Helmut Marko. Helmut was open to me driving for them, and requested for the situations of my McLaren launch.”

“Zak had straight known as Helmut, and apparently Helmut had advised Zak he was not anymore. I don't know what occurred in that dialog, however for positive it didn't assist as a result of abruptly Helmut was not anymore.”

McLaren “plunged into disaster mode”

Earlier this week, McLaren's counsel Paul Goulding detailed the monetary influence of Palou's choice to renege on his cope with the squad and proceed with CGR in 2024.

“McLaren was plunged into disaster mode by Mr Palou's deliberate breach of contract,” he mentioned. “His illegal actions prompted deep consternation amongst McLaren's sponsors, whose expectations had been forged apart in a single day.

“McLaren needed to discover a substitute driver at brief discover, but there was nobody obtainable of Mr Palou's calibre. Sponsors withheld funds within the wake of Mr Palou's U-turn and made abundantly clear to McLaren that sponsorship agreements must be renegotiated.” 

Palou's attorneys, nevertheless, disputed McLaren's declare as “vastly inflated”, earlier than including that the squad's assertion amounted to “a barefaced try to take Mr Palou to the cleaners”.

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– The Autosport.com Staff