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

The summer saga IndyCar coming to an end. Two months after announcing his departure from Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2022 season to marry McLaren, Alex Palou backpedals in part to stay in the fold of Chip Ganassi in 2023 in the North American championship.

I'm excited to announce that @CGRTeams and I have come to an agreement and I'll be back in the No. 10 because next season!

Looking forward to a BIG 2023! 🦍 pic.twitter.com/wIhaPdYj9q

— Alex Palou Montalbo (@AlexPalou) September 14, 2022

Crowned in 2021, the Spanish driver experienced a more difficult 2022 season, punctuated however by a crushing victory in the final at Laguna Seca, where his direct pursuer, Josef Newgarden (Team Penske), was rejected by half a minute.

“Alex Palou will remain in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing car for the 2023 IndyCar season, indicates a press release from the CGR team published this Wednesday, September 14. The deal gives him the ability to test cars in separate racing series, provided it doesn't directly conflict with his IndyCar commitments. »

It is this last sentence that catches the attention. Alex Palou had given in to the sirens of Zak Brown and McLaren precisely to join the Formula 1 in the heart of summer. A perspective undermined by the signing ofOscar piastri alongside Lando Norris, but above all by a legal conflict between his two potential employers (CGR and McLaren). Chip Ganassi had explained how Alex Palou was not respecting his initial commitment, since a contract was signed with the team of Chip Ganassi and Mike Hull for the year 2023. McLaren, for its part, denied having knowledge of this signing.

ALSO READ > Chip Ganassi Racing sues Alex Palou

Alex Palou also reacted on social networks by thanking the flexibility of the CGR. “I am also grateful that CGR is allowing me to continue F1 testing with McLaren outside of my IndyCar commitments. Thank you Chip, Mike and the entire team for your willingness to work together and help support both the team and my personal goals through this process. »

All's well that ends well then. The 25-year-old driver wasted no time in putting a toe into the world of Formula 1 as he will take part in a test session at the Barcelona circuit, alongside Arrow Mclaren SP driver in IndyCar Pato O 'Ward, on board a car old generation, the MCL35M.

McLaren, like the nine other Formula 1 teams, is obliged to reserve two Free Practices on Friday for a rookie, with the aim of opening the sport to a new generation of drivers. This is how the Dutch Nyck de Vries was able to play three sessions with Williams, Mercedes et Aston Martin during 2022, before being called to urgently replace Alex Albon at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

ALSO READ > Romain Grosjean already looking towards 2023

Finally, Arrow McLaren SP was immediately able to confirm its line-up for 2023: Pato O'Ward will be joined by Alexander Red (Andretti defector) while Felix Rosenqvist, for a time on the departure towards the Formula E, was preserved.