Palou may not race in 2023
Not sure how much of this is stuff from Felix's Christmas list but he seems to think h might still be running a McLaren / SPAM in Indycar next year, with suggestions Palou might not race at all next year due to his confused contractual situation and the outcome set to be decided in the Courtrooms.
Following the Toronto IndyCar race, Rosenqvist suggested what many observers within IndyCar circles believe to be true: that the looming contract dispute between Palou’s two potential suitors will not be resolved quickly or painlessly.
“I don’t know what’s going on there,” FR admitted. “At the moment it doesn’t sound like Alex is going to race at all.
“It’s up to lawyers and stuff. Honestly, it’s not my business at all. I think it hasn’t really changed anything. This whole deal went down months ago. I didn’t know all the details of it that I know now, but nothing has actually changed.”
So thats Pato and Rossi sorted we know that, but maybe Felix wont be destined to return to racing milk floats after all. He, along with Palou both have these non specific contracts outline their actual roles within the McLaren Group are not formalised. Obviously the plan for Palou was Indycar with the occasional play in F1 cars which would have had Felix going electric, but maybe that is all still a state of flux. Felix says he is settled in Indycar, has upped his act and thats where he wants to be.
Felix wrote:“I’ve made my point that I’m very happy with the team. I think we worked hard the last two years to kind of build up a very strong team. We have good strategy, good pit stops. I think I’m able to extract the most out of the car most weekends now."
“I think if you asked me at the end of last year, obviously it would have been a different answer. But right now, I’m just very happy where I’m at. I think I would be crazy if I said I wanted to go somewhere else. I want to be where I’m at right now.”
He admitted that his IndyCar future rests in the hands of Zak Brown. “He’s the man who is making the moves. It’s probably going to take a couple weeks before we know more. Hopefully Toronto changed something. My ambition is to keep proving it that way.
“I think if Zak was sure I was going to FE, he would have already said it. I’m going to take that chance. If there’s a chance for me to be here next year, I’m going to try to prove I can do that.”
Seems like this one isnt going to be sorted quickly, and unfortunately Felix's (Indycar) future seems to be potentially in the hands of Chip and Zak's lawyers and a judge. In the meantime a few more podiums wont do him any harm.
Could we even get a situation where the judge says Palou legally is tied to CGR as far as Indycar is concerned, and cant drive for SPAM in 2023. I cant see if that was to happen that Palou would be parked in a McLaren FE. That would be when Zak would get his chequebook out and buy out Palou's contract from Chip. Chip wont run Palou even if he wins the legal right to.
Maybe (likely?) it wont even go to court and Zak will just drop a sack of cash on Chip's desk one day.
Lets get really hypothetical and could Felix be part of the deal? Chip needs someone with some runs on the board and I cant think who is free at year end atm
Maybe I have had too many coffees today!
Just as we put the popcorn away its back out again.....