IndyAutomotive’s presumptive 2023 champion Alex Palou is going through authorized motion but once more. Last 12 months, the 26-year-old Spaniard was sued by his present staff, Chip Ganassi Racing, for breach of contract as Palou acknowledged that he wouldn’t race for Ganassi in 2023, regardless of the staff selecting up an choice in his contract. McLaren then introduced that it had signed Palou.
A settlement was arbitrated, leading to Palou racing with Ganassi in 2023 whereas collaborating in an F1 testing and improvement program with McLaren, who paid Palou’s authorized charges. It was extensively assumed that Palou would leap ship for 2024 when his contract expired. Now, McLaren is suing Palou for damages associated to a damaged 2024 contract.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Palou was served with UOkay Commercial Court paperwork in two fits from McLaren Racing Limited and McLaren Indy, LLC in opposition to his racing entity ALPA Racing USA, LLC and himself. The newspaper believes the fits aren’t an try and drive Palou to honor his contract and race for the staff subsequent 12 months however to assert damages within the vary of $20 million to $30 million. The damages embody a 2024 wage advance that McLaren claims it paid Palou and the price F1 follow and personal check periods Palou drove with the staff.
While Palou has indicated that he received’t race for McLaren in 2024, it isn’t 100% sure the place he’ll step behind. However, all indicators level towards Palou remaining with Ganassi. The driver-team pairing has seemingly healed all previous wounds as they edge nearer to sealing their second championship in three seasons this weekend at Gateway.
Source: jalopnik.com