F1

Alex Palou captivated by F1 after his test with McLaren: “Endless acceleration”

The 2021 IndyCar champion enjoyed his first contact with a Formula 1 single-seater and did not expect such power.

Published on 24/09/2022 à 11:12

Medhi Casaurang

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Alex Palou captivated by F1 after his test with McLaren: “Endless acceleration”

Alex Palou spent three days testing in Barcelona with the 2021 McLaren. © McLaren F1

It's a little dream that came true for Alex Palou. The 2021 champion ofIndyCar had the opportunity to try a McLaren 35 MCL2021M on the Barcelona route (Spain) as part of its new agreement with the British team.

The Spanish driver, who signed a contract with Zak Brown during the summer of 2022 denounced by his American employer Chip Ganassi Racing, settled this legal dispute amicably. Chip Ganassi Racing will keep him for the 2023 IndyCar season. McLaren Racing, for its part, can organize some private testing sessions with a Formula 1. While waiting for a possible stronger transfer to F1 in 2024.

“It's so different from any other car a driver can drive before Formula 1 that when you get out of the car the first things that come to mind are acceleration, braking... Basic things , because it’s a massive change”, declared Alex PalouSpanish media Soy Motor.com.

ALSO READ > Alex Palou stays with Chip Ganassi but tests a McLaren in F1

The 25-year-old pilot spent three days with the old machine Lando Norris et Daniel Ricciardo on the Catalan track. “It was incredible. First I spent an hour just to make sure everything was okay in the car, check the seat and just give myself time to get comfortable with the speed. When I first got out of the car, I couldn't help but tell my wife Esther and my father that this made no sense, that the behavior of the car and how much it was different. »

Alex Palou may be used to driving an IndyCar Dallara, but the performance gap with an F1 car is immense. “It’s an endless acceleration, it seems like it never ends. Then when you do more laps, you get used to it and you see where it ends... and then there's the braking, the cornering... It's just so perfect. »

The Spaniard hasn't even reached the full potential of the orange machine! “It's difficult to get the most out of the car with only 500 kilometers on the clock. You can do it, but there are risks. It's not that we're racing against time, it's more about progression. I don't think it's possible to go from IndyCar to Formula 1 and get the most out of the car in one session. »

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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