The long-running dispute between McLaren and IndyCar champion Alex Palou reached the UK High Court, with McLaren suing for over $20 million after Palou walked away from agreements. In testimony, Palou said he was led to believe an F1 seat "could happen," only for Oscar Piastri’s signing to end that dream. McLaren boss Zak Brown denied making promises or misleading the driver.
How it unraveled
- Expectation vs reality: Palou claims encouragement about a potential F1 pathway; McLaren insists no assurances were given.
- Piastri’s arrival: The Australian’s signing became a turning point, with Palou saying it angered him and effectively closed the door.
- Reserve duties and testing: Palou’s involvement around the team added to his belief a seat might be possible.
The stakes
Beyond the headline damages, the case touches reputations and trust in cross-series talent pipelines. For McLaren, it is about contract enforceability; for Palou, it is about opportunity cost — and whether signals from F1 teams can be construed as commitments.
The court will decide the legalities. The human story is simpler: a driver near his peak felt the door to F1 open — and then slam shut.
