McLaren seeks at least $23 million in damages from Alex Palou

It has been reported that McLaren is seeking at least $23m from IndyCar champion Alex Palou after the driver reneged on his contract for 2024.

According to a claim filed in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales Commercial Court, Palou had agreed that he had “no outstanding obligation under any contract or agreement” that would prevent him from joining McLaren once the 2023 IndyCar season ended.

However, after rejecting Chip Ganassi Racing for McLaren, Palou then performed a U-turn and rejected McLaren for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Had the original deal with McLaren come into being Palou would have raced for McLaren’s IndyCar project alongside a test and reserve role with the F1 team ahead of a future switch to the world championship. Palou took part in a year-long programme with McLaren including private test sessions and his FP1 debut at the US Grand Prix last October.

A McLaren spokesman said, “We have a contract, so it’s now in the legal process we filed in London courts last week against him both as a person and his business entity, and we’ll just let the legal proceedings carry the situation forward.”

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