Chip Ganassi Racing’s Palou, who received his second IndyCar title for the crew at Portland final weekend, had been driving TPC (testing earlier vehicles) equipment as reserve driver for McLaren’s F1 crew forward of his anticipated swap to Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar squad subsequent 12 months.
This was understood to be a part of an analysis section of his potential to develop into a part of McLaren’s F1 driver lineup in future.
However his choice at first of August to carry out a U-turn on that McLaren transfer, to stick with Ganassi, has halted his F1 ambitions.
Palou spoke to pick out group of media, together with Motorsport.com, at Pebble Seashore in California on Wednesday. He defined how his perspective in direction of F1 has shifted in recent times, given his age and the dearth of a cast-iron assure of a racing future there.
“There is no hiding, like, if you happen to have a look at my interviews till ’21, I used to be saying that I used to be not centered on F1 in any respect,” he mentioned. “And that was completely true, however issues modified once I received the championship simply because I used to be 24.
“I simply received my first massive championship and it was like, ‘What if I attempt one thing?’ It may go sideways, however then I come again [to IndyCar] and I am 27, and I’m nonetheless tremendous younger, and I can nonetheless do it for like 15 or 10 years.
“So, then it modified. [The] door opened just a little bit with McLaren. It was superb. I acquired to check the [F1] vehicles and likewise Apply One at COTA final 12 months, which was superb. The chance was nice, however there was nothing else there saying, ‘Oh, you should have a automotive’.
“On the identical time, if I used to be 20, perhaps I’d’ve waited. However I am not 20, I am 26. And on that facet, I do not know if there’s been any individual [aged] 30 entering into F1.”
Alex Palou, McLaren MCL36
Picture by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Pictures
After claiming the title in Portland on Sunday, when requested by Motorsport.com if he nonetheless harbors ideas of switching to F1 sooner or later, Palou replied: “No, I mentioned it many occasions that it was not my totally focus. Then when a possibility got here, I needed to go for it, I felt.
“On the identical time, I do know I am not 21 or 19. I am already 26, which is nice. I am not saying I am previous, however I imply, it isn’t that I am tremendous younger. So, subsequent 12 months I will be 27. If an [F1] alternative comes sooner or later, which is like actually, actually small probabilities, I will give it some thought for positive, 100%.
“However I am pleased truthfully. So long as I carry on successful championships and races or battling for championships I believe I will have an excellent profession.”
Palou has been instructed by his attorneys to not touch upon any contractual issues, as McLaren has taken authorized motion in opposition to him by the UK Excessive Court docket.
When requested if he was stunned by McLaren’s plan of action, he replied: “No, I used to be anticipating it. I imply, perhaps not that means of like doing stuff. However yeah, I used to be anticipating [it] sooner fairly than later that there was going to be some motion, for positive.”