This newest contractual saga follows a protracted authorized battle over his companies for 2023, when Ganassi filed a lawsuit towards its personal driver after he signed a contract with McLaren in the summertime of 2022.
A authorized mediation led to him staying with Ganassi for this season, through which he appears sure to assert his second championship, however allowed him to drive McLaren System 1 vehicles and function the workforce’s reserve F1 driver.
He appeared set to hitch the Arrow McLaren IndyCar squad for 2024 till now.
In a press release, McLaren Racing’s chief government Zak Brown mentioned: “I’m extraordinarily dissatisfied that Alex Palou doesn’t intend to honour his contractual obligations to race with us in IndyCar in 2024 and past.”
In a letter despatched to McLaren staff after last observe at Indianapolis on Friday night, first reported by the Related Press, Brown wrote: “That is extremely disappointing, contemplating the dedication he has made to us each instantly and publicly and our important funding in him based mostly on that dedication.”
He additionally identified the “time, cash and sources getting ready to welcome Alex into our workforce as a result of we believed in him and have been wanting ahead to IndyCar wins with him”.
Alex Palou, McLaren F1 testing at Barcelona
Photograph by: Monaco Enhance Administration
Palou had been an integral a part of McLaren’s F1 TPC (testing of earlier vehicles) program, driving most not too long ago on the Hungaroring in June – alongside common race driver Oscar Piastri – after earlier checks on the Crimson Bull Ring and Barcelona.
He additionally drove in Free Follow 1 eventually 12 months’s United States Grand Prix and was current at Could’s Miami Grand Prix as McLaren’s reserve driver.
The saga took one other twist on Saturday because it was revealed that Palou has cut up along with his administration firm, Monaco Enhance Administration, which issued its personal assertion saying it was “bitterly dissatisfied” along with his determination.
It learn: “Monaco Enhance Administration is bitterly dissatisfied to study Alex Palou’s determination to interrupt an current settlement with McLaren for 2024 and past.
“Collectively, we had constructed a relationship that we thought went past any contractual obligation and culminated in successful the 2021 IndyCar crown and tracing a path to F1 alternatives.
“Life goes on and we want Alex all the perfect for his future achievements.”
MIM had been lively within the F1 paddock representing Palou, as his McLaren deal is known to have had a multi-million pound buyout deal till 1 July, however he confirmed this week that he’d had no curiosity from different F1 groups.
All indicators now level to a multi-year renewal with Ganassi, with a seven-figure wage that may seemingly make him the best-paid driver within the sequence.