Palou to enter F1 with McLaren? 'Only under the right conditions'

F1 News

Alex Palou on moving from Indycar to Formula 1 with Mclaren
13 June 2023 at 11:55
Last update 13 June 2023 at 14:46
  • Ludo van Denderen

Alex Palou is in top form. The Spaniard won the last IndyCar race in Detroit, managed to start from pole at the Indy500 a week earlier and currently leads the championship in the American racing class. Last weekend, he was once again in a Formula 1 car, in the '21 McLaren, during a test drive at the Hungaroring.

Indeed, it is a very busy year for Palou, who is aiming for his second title in IndyCar with Chip Ganassi's team. Moreover, the 26-year-old is test and third driver at McLaren. Once the IndyCar season is over, he will be McLaren's reserve driver for every Grand Prix. It is expected that Palou will also compete for McLaren in IndyCar next season.

Palou doesn't know if dream will come true

Palou drove the McLaren on Friday in Austin last year. So although he is creating a furore in IndyCar, he has certainly not put a move to Formula 1 out of his mind. "Formula 1 is everyone's dream, but under the right conditions. And who knows if the dream (and conditions) won't come true soon...," he told Italian Gazzetta.

In Hungary, Palou drove 87 laps with a best time of 1.19 minutes on a partially wet track. After his test in the '21 McLaren, Palou had travelled on to Monza, where his father was active. Indeed, dad Palou runs his own Europcup F3 team.