Stunning Max Verstappen team-mate swoop branded as 'clickbait'

Chip Ganassi has branded a report that Red Bull were prepared to swoop for IndyCar champion Alex Palou to partner Max Verstappen as "clickbait." A report emerged earlier this week stating that Red Bull had made enquiries to Ganassi's team whether Palou, who has dominated this season's championship to win a fourth title, could be released to pair with Verstappen for next season. Red Bull has long struggled with its second seat alongside Verstappen, with Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and Liam Lawson all being discarded since 2019. Incumbent Yuki Tsunoda only has seven points in 12 races. Palou's name has often been on the fringes of F1, but Ganassi has delivered a firm response that the report is unfounded. "I read that myself; there was nobody quoted in there," he told The Associated Press. "I talked to Palou. Palou said he's never talked to anybody, doesn't know anything about it, and I talked to his management.  "They know nothing about it. I know nothing about it. I think it's a clickbait story." As for Palou, he had a theory about where the rumour might have come from.  "There's been nothing, nothing at all. We have heard nothing from anyone," the Spanish driver also told The Associated Press. " The only thing I've heard was it was a manager for some other driver in IndyCar who would like to have my seat , who said it to start something." Palou's future with Ganassi has been a topic of controversy in the past, with a public split with Ganassi shortly after winning his first title in 2021. He signed a contract with McLaren to race for its IndyCar team from 2023, which could have led to a potential F1 seat. Ganassi stood firm, however, insisting he had a valid contract with a deal struck where Palou would do simulator work with McLaren, whilst he also made his FP1 debut for the team at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.  He was set to join McLaren for 2024, but had a change of heart and backed out to stay at Ganassi, leading McLaren to sue him for breach of contract, with the case set to be heard in London in September 2025. Palou has dominated the 2025 IndyCar championship, winning eight of the 16 races thus far ahead of the finale this weekend, including the Indianapolis 500 in May.