Palou turned his back on joining McLaren for the 2024 IndyCar season in a surpris🅠ing twist.

The 26-year-old was involved in a contract struggle between Ganassi and McLaren in 2022, when Palou signed ꦇa contract with the Working-based team.

Ganassi ultimately filed a lawsuit ag𓆏ainst Palou, which u▨ltimately led him to remain the team for this season, while being able to drive McLaren’s F1 cars and act as their reserve driver.

Palou got opportunities to drive for McLaren at the Hungaroring very recently, ❀while he drove in FP1 at last year’s United States Grand Prix.

It’s a kick in the teeth for Zak Brown, who can probably empathise more with Alpine who lost 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri to McLaren last year fಌollowing a contract tug-of-war.

In a letter sent to McLaren employees, Brown wrote: “This is incredibly disappointing, considering the commitment he has made to us both dirꦍectly and publicly and our significant investment in him based on that commitment. 

“Time, ꧙money and resources preparing to welcome Alex into our team𝓰 because we believed in him and were looking forward to IndyCar wins with him.”

It seems likely Palou will remain in IndyCar and sign a longer, multi-year deal wi𒐪th Ganassi.

However, by cutting ties with McLaren, he does ༺leave 🔯himself open to F1 opportunities elsewhere.

Clearly, with Piastri and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris, McLaren have their F1 driver lin👍e-up sorted for the next three to four years - there’ꦚs no chance for Palou.

What options could he have in F1?

AlphaTauri

The obvious choi𝐆ce is AlphaTauri given the uncer⛦tainty around their driver line-up.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo made a surprise return in place of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nyck de Vries at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Australian openly eyeing up 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez’s seat for 2025.

Ricciardo doesn’t fit the AlphaTauri profile but given that they have limited options outside of Liam Lawsonꦚ, his return was🙈 ultimately logical.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Yuki Tsunoda seems favoured by Helmut Marko and the Red Bull mana♛gement, however, he’s yet to prove he’s worthy of a Red Bull drive.

Red Bull have shown by 🉐the signing of de Vries that 🍷they are prepared to go outside of their own driver academy if needed.

With potentially two IndyCar titles to his name, Palou has the crede🅺ntials while being a more experienced♋ option age-wise.

Haas

All signs are pointing towards 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Hulkenberg remaining with Haas for another season.

The German has been magnificent inꦕ qualifying, leading the team to some impressive highs.

On the other hand, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kevin Magnussen has struggled, and Miami aside, he's🔯 generally been underwhelming.

The Dane is out of contract at the end o🐼f the year, with Haas in no rush to hand him a new deal.

Haas don’t have too many options, particularly as team boss Guenther Steiner isn’t keen on rookie drivers after two years of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Mick Schumacher.

Palou, while he’d officially be a rookie in F1, has a wealth of top single-seater experience, combined with his age at 26, is𒆙n’t ♍a traditional ‘rookie’ either.

Whilꦬe he is not an American, it would be great PR for Haas 😼to sign the best driver from IndyCar.

Williams

Palou’s final option would be Williams.

Williams enjoyed a surprise upwards trajectory in 2023 with168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Alex Albon spear-heading their revival.

The signing🦩 of James Vowles as team principal has been a major coup, but they still need a better-performing second driver.

Similar to Nicholas Latifi, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Logan Sargeant♛ continues to underperform and shows no real sign of improvement.

He has shown𓂃 flashes of pace - Bahrain and Azerbaijan spring t🎉o mind - but the gap to Albon is too vast.

Schumacher is in the frame to return to F1 with Williams in 2024 - which may make this a more unlike🃏ly option for Palou.