In late Could, Alex Palou was receiving loads of consideration inside the Formulation 1 paddock because of his Indy 500 victory. In that case, the highlight was an appreciation of his achievements, as he wasn’t in competition for one of many Cadillac seats.
These rides have now formally gone the best way of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, however unusually, there have been extra questions on Palou probably making the transfer to F1 since then, following a rumor that Pink Bull had proven an curiosity in his providers.
RACER understands there’s a vital buy-out clause in Palou’s Ganassi contract, and was advised by his supervisor that he had not spoken to anybody at Pink 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 person 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. Someone must brush up their investigative journalism.
“Look, let me say this. Everyone desires a driver that everyone else desires to have. Which means you’ve got one thing that is actually precious. Do I feel Formulation 1’s the largest menace? You already know what I feel the largest menace is, the largest menace is ourselves, every of us. Every of us is our greatest menace.
“I work to create the absolute best atmosphere for our folks. It is the identical for our drivers. I work to provide them the absolute best atmosphere. That is all I understand how to do. It appears to be working. Like I mentioned, Alex had a possibility 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 concerning the hyperlinks from the F1 facet, a Pink Bull crew spokesperson mentioned there was “no reality in any respect” in them, however Spanish media had been significantly eager to ask about Palou’s potential capacity at a extra established crew, fairly 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 form of issues, however he has the expertise and he has the extent to adapt in a short time.
“Finally, it would rely on which automobile you’ve got. If you’re in the back of the grid, it appears that you’re not adapting to the class and you might be scuffling with sure issues and also you make extra errors since you attempt to overcome these, you overdrive typically. And if you’re in a quick automobile, all the pieces is a bit bit simpler.
“I do not know. I feel for certain he’s a Formulation 1-level (driver) and if he has the possibility, I will probably be very completely happy 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 most recent mentions of the four-time IndyCar champion’s title, Sainz was extra cautious about judging how he would carry out at Pink Bull.
“I can solely say what I see within the automobile is that he is doing an unbelievable job,” Sainz mentioned. “Then F1 is a very completely different monster, each as a driver as a automobile. However as a formulation (it) could be very completely different from anything, so it is unimaginable to foretell how good he can be in Formulation 1.
“I can solely say that within the automobile he is simply doing unbelievable issues. He have to be doing issues actually, very well to dominate the best way 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 rules in 2026 provide a possibility for a extra degree taking part in area 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’ve got a brand new automobile or a brand new crew how troublesome it’s to adapt.
“Not a lot due to how troublesome the automobile is to drive or how completely different it’s, however as a result of your teammate is aware of the automobile very well, is aware of the crew very well, and it is your reference and you must a minimum of match that.
“It is troublesome to try this once they have already got three or 4 years of expertise with that automobile and that crew, to leap in right away and match that. Positively when there is a regulation change all that, or half of that, goes away and the teammate solely is aware of the folks 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 might be a very good time to hitch F1 if you happen to come from the skin as a result of a minimum of all the pieces is new. And in addition most likely subsequent 12 months’s vehicles will probably be slower, extra demanding mentally perhaps however much less bodily.”
One driver supervisor felt that the most recent rumor might have been planted by IndyCar to get F1 speaking up its champion on the finish of a dominant season, and if that principle truly was the case, then it definitely 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 residence 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 reaching in IndyCar is unbelievable.
“It is so spectacular to see, however it’s unimaginable to know the way folks will do in F1 and it’s the identical query the opposite approach spherical – how would you do in IndyCar? You don’t have any thought. So, for me, it’s a little bit of a waste of time to attempt to debate that.
“I’m simply so completely happy to see him doing so properly in IndyCar and the best way 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 count on to see him in a Pink Bull subsequent 12 months.