In late Might, Alex Palou was receiving loads of consideration throughout the System 1 paddock on account of his Indy 500 victory. In that case, the highlight was an appreciation of his achievements, as he wasn’t in rivalry for one of many Cadillac seats.
These rides have now formally gone the way in which of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, however surprisingly, there have been extra questions on Palou doubtlessly making the transfer to F1 since then, following a rumor that Crimson Bull had proven an curiosity in his providers.
RACER understands there’s a vital buy-out clause in Palou’s Ganassi contract, and was instructed by his supervisor that he had not spoken to anybody at Crimson Bull. Palou’s present boss Chip Ganassi was equally dismissive when he addressed the hypothesis this week.
“I learn that (story) myself,” Ganassi mentioned. “There was no one quoted in there. I discuss to Palou. Palou mentioned he is by no means talked to anyone, does not know something about it. I talked to his administration. They know nothing about it. I do know nothing about it.I feel it is a clickbait story. Any individual must brush up their investigative journalism.
“Look, let me say this. All people needs a driver that everyone else needs to have. Meaning you could have one thing that is actually priceless. Do I feel System 1’s the largest risk? You recognize what I feel the largest risk is, the largest risk is ourselves, every of us. Every of us is our largest risk.
“I work to create the very best atmosphere for our individuals. It is the identical for our drivers. I work to offer them the very best atmosphere. That is all I understand how to do. It appears to be working. Like I mentioned, Alex had a chance to depart and he did not. I do not know what else to inform you. I take him at his phrase when he says he likes it right here and he is having a good time.”
When requested in regards to the hyperlinks from the F1 facet, a Crimson Bull staff spokesperson mentioned there was “no reality in any respect” in them, however Spanish media have been significantly eager to ask about Palou’s potential capacity at a extra established staff, slightly than a brand new start-up.
“It’s a problem for certain,” Fernando Alonso mentioned. “There are well-established drivers and groups right here and circuits and these sort of issues, however he has the expertise and he has the extent to adapt in a short time.
“In the end, it’s going to depend upon which automobile you could have. In case you are behind the grid, it appears that you’re not adapting to the class and you might be combating sure issues and also you make extra errors since you attempt to overcome these, you overdrive generally. And in case you are in a quick automobile, all the things is a little bit bit simpler.
“I do not know. I feel for certain he’s a System 1-level (driver) and if he has the prospect, I might be very comfortable for him.”
After Palou’s Indy 500 success, Carlos Sainz mentioned he was intrigued to see how Palou would fare in F1 equipment. However amid the newest mentions of the four-time IndyCar champion’s title, Sainz was extra cautious about judging how he would carry out at Crimson Bull.
“I can solely say what I see within the automobile is that he is doing an unimaginable job,” Sainz mentioned. “Then F1 is a very totally different monster, each as a driver as a automobile. However as a formulation (it) could be very totally different from anything, so it is unimaginable to foretell how good he could be in System 1.
“I can solely say that within the automobile he is simply doing unimaginable issues. He should be doing issues actually, rather well to dominate the way in which he is dominating in such a aggressive class.”
Regardless of each Alonso and Sainz warning of the problem of switching classes, there was an admission from the latter that the change laws in 2026 provide a chance for a extra stage taking part in subject for an IndyCar driver.
“It is undoubtedly higher to come back when it is a reset for everybody,” Sainz added. “It is a good time to hitch the sphere since you’ve seen it this 12 months how powerful it has been for teammates who’ve already been in F1, when you could have a brand new automobile or a brand new staff how troublesome it’s to adapt.
“Not a lot due to how troublesome the automobile is to drive or how totally different it’s, however as a result of your teammate is aware of the automobile rather well, is aware of the staff rather well, and it is your reference and it’s a must to at the very least match that.
“It is troublesome to try this once they have already got three or 4 years of expertise with that automobile and that staff, to leap in immediately and match that. Undoubtedly when there is a regulation change all that, or half of that, goes away and the teammate solely is aware of the individuals however does not know the automobile, does not know the setup, does not know the tires, does not know the engine.
“It is a larger reset for certain, so it will be an excellent time to hitch F1 for those who come from the surface as a result of at the very least all the things is new. And in addition most likely subsequent 12 months’s vehicles might be slower, extra demanding mentally possibly however much less bodily.”
One driver supervisor felt that the newest rumor may have been planted by IndyCar to get F1 speaking up its champion on the finish of a dominant season, and if that concept truly was the case, then it actually labored. As a result of on this event, it wasn’t simply the Spanish drivers getting questioned about Palou. Max Verstappen was additionally included within the dialog at his house race.
“It is at all times so troublesome to say,” Verstappen mentioned. “I do know Alex already from go-karting instances, and I feel what he’s attaining in IndyCar is unimaginable.
“It is so spectacular to see, nevertheless it’s unimaginable to understand how individuals will do in F1 and it’s the identical query the opposite manner spherical – how would you do in IndyCar? You haven’t any concept. So, for me, it’s a little bit of a waste of time to attempt to debate that.
“I’m simply so comfortable to see him doing so effectively in IndyCar and the way in which he is been dominating.”
As soon as once more, excessive reward certainly for a driver who’s placing collectively a outstanding run of success in IndyCar. Simply do not anticipate to see him in a Crimson Bull subsequent 12 months.
