Why McLaren's Piastri recruitment made Palou 'angry'

The war of words continues between Álex Palou and McLaren. While the legal dispute surrounding their contractual termination is not yet closed, the four-time champion ofIndyCar revealed the inside story of his turbulent relationship with Zak Brown. Above all, the Catalan did not appreciate the recruitment ofOscar piastri by the Woking stable.

« I was very upset, worried and angry that McLaren had recruited another rookie driver than me. » says Palou in comments relayed by MotorSport Magazine. " I asked Monaco Increase Management to speak to Zak to find out what was going on. On September 22nd, he told them they needed someone quick for 2023, but that it wouldn't interfere with my chances of getting into F1. »

The Spanish driver assures that from 2021 he had clearly expressed his only interest in Formula 1: " I told McLaren that I only wanted to drive for them in F1. My motivation was to be in the biggest single-seater competition in the world. »

McLaren seeks $25 million from Palou

The arrival of Oscar Piastri at McLaren, however, has reshuffled the cards. Zak (Brown) told me it wasn't him who decided to hire Oscar, but Andreas Seidl. He assured me my chances weren't affected, but I knew everything had changed. »

Palou also mentions a little-known episode: an aborted contact with Alpha Tauri in 2023. " Helmut Marko was open to the idea of ​​me driving for them, then suddenly he wasn't. Zak had called Helmut in the meantime... I don't know what happened, but it didn't help. »

For his part, Zak Brown stands firm on his line: “ I explained to him the opportunities that would be available to him in F1. I never told him that his application would be considered. »

A case in which thwarted ambitions and unclear promises continue to fuel tension between the two camps. McLaren is now seeking nearly $25 million (approximately €21,6 million) in damages, claiming it suffered significant financial losses as a result of the breach of contract: withdrawal of sponsors, adjustment of Arrow McLaren drivers' salaries to Palou's, and payment of a $400,000 bonus that the team now wants back.

Zak Brown, for his part, particularly criticizes the manner, accusing the 28-year-old Spanish driver of having " threw a grenade into the room » by breaking up without warning.

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