It has been reported that IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou is trying to make a move to Formula 1, at least that’s what his management company are supposedly pushing for.
According to reports, Palou’s management company, Monaco Increased Management (MIM), are trying to get a 2024 F1 seat for the Spaniard.
Palou is currently destroying the field across the Atlantic, as he leads the championship by 74 points over ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson.
The Spaniard’s management team are believed to have been seen at the recent Spanish Grand Prix talking to several teams, over a potential seat for 2024.
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Interestingly, it’s understood in the IndyCar paddock that Palou has a deal with McLaren to race in the United States next season, meaning an F1 switch might not actually be on the cards just yet.
McLaren tried to sign Palou to race for them in IndyCar this season; however, it quickly unravelled into a nasty situation.
Palou is currently racing for Ganassi but is expected to make a move to McLaren for 2024, whilst he’s also one of the F1 team’s official reserve drivers for this season.
Palou is also still able to test old McLaren cars as part of one of their programmes, alongside his Ganassi duties.
Apparently, the IndyCar championship leader has until the end of July to find an F1 seat or McLaren will announce him as one of their IndyCar drivers for next season.
With so few seats available, Palou is seemingly likely to remain in IndyCar next season.
AlphaTauri or Haas are really the only two teams where a deal could possibly be made, with some suggesting that his best bet could be to wait until 2025.
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Lando Norris’ contract is due to expire at the end of 2025, meaning an F1 seat at McLaren could be available for Palou in 2026.
Given the belief that he’ll be racing for the British team in the US next season, this could make an F1 switch much easier for the Spaniard.
It does depend on whether Norris chooses to leave though, with that seemingly dependant on if he can find a more competitive seat elsewhere.