McLaren Racing CEO Zac Brown has described claims made by Alex Palou during the Spaniard’s trial for breaching his IndyCar contract as “patently ridiculous”.
McLaren is seeking nearly $20 million in damages after Palou backed out of his move from Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of 2023, choosing to remain with Ganassi and win three consecutive IndyCar championships from 2023 to 2025. McLaren claims it has not only missed out on track success with IndyCar, but also suffered a hit in sponsorship deals and the salaries of other drivers.
The case is being heard at the High Court in London, and in a witness statement last Friday, Palou claimed that Brawn told him it was the decision of then-McLaren F1 team principal Andreas Seidl to sign Oscar Piastri.
“Zac told me that Oscar’s performance would be evaluated against mine when it comes to the 2024 seat,” Palou added, claiming he had been misled about his chances of winning a race seat with McLaren in F1 as part of contract negotiations with IndyCar.
Brown attended several days of hearings and was questioned by Palou’s lawyers, with the four-time IndyCar champion admitting breach of contract but insisting he owed nothing and that McLaren had mitigated his losses.
“I’m not sure which of the allegations amused me more: the idea that I’m not the one making important decisions about the driver line-up, or the suggestion that I didn’t agree to signing the very talented Oscar Piastri,” Brown was quoted as saying by Reuters. “Both allegations are patently ridiculous and anyone who follows our sport will see them in the face.”
Unconcerned that the allegations in court could damage his relationship with Piastri, Brown claimed he had joked with Piastri about the situation before this weekend’s US Grand Prix.
“We have the absolute best driver duo on the F1 grid in Oscar and Lando (Norris) and I couldn’t be more excited about their incredible performance and sportsmanship,” he said. “I’m excited to see some great racing for the rest of the season.”
The F1 race in Austin coincides with a suspension of the trial, which is expected to resume on October 20 and continue into November.