McLaren CEO, Zak Brown has released a statement brimming with frustration subsequent to Alex Palou’s choice to reject joining McLaren’s IndyCar team for the upcoming 2024 season.
The Spanish driver has garnered widespread recognition as a conceivable successor to Lando Norris, consistently positioning himself as a leading contender.
Norris, the leading driver at McLaren signed a new deal in February last year, extending his contract through 2025.
Alongside Norris is Oscar Piastri, an emerging talent tied to McLaren until 2024. Looking ahead, Palou garners attention as a potential Formula 1 entrant. At 26, Palou’s IndyCar dominance is indisputable.
However, the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion has opted out of a McLaren contract, instead joining Chip Ganassi Racing, casting a new trajectory.
CEO of McLaren Racing, Zak Brown could not hide his frustrations. In a statement released, he said: “I’m extremely disappointed that Alex Palou does not intend to honour his contractual obligations to race with us in Indycar in 2024 and beyond.”
“This is incredibly disappointing, considering the commitment he has made to us both directly and publicly and our significant investment in him based on that commitment.
“We have invested time, money and resources preparing to welcome Alex into our team because we believed in him and were looking forward to IndyCar wins with him.”
The 26-year-old has additionally parted ways with his management agency, Monaco Increase Management, which issued the ensuing declaration: “We are bitterly disappointed to learn about Alex Palou’s decision to break an existing agreement with McLaren for 2024 and beyond.
“Together, we had built a relationship that we thought went beyond any contractual obligation and culminated in winning the 2021 IndyCar crown and tracing a path to F1 opportunities. Life goes on and we wish Alex all the best for his future achievements.”
