Indy 500 champion Palou will not be transitioning to Formula 1.
"I don’t believe they’re enjoying themselves as much"
Indy 500 champion Alex Palou has eliminated himself from consideration for a switch to Formula 1. The 28-year-old is widely regarded as the top driver in Indycar at the moment, having secured titles in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Palou had considered joining Formula 1 through a testing arrangement with McLaren, but a contract dispute led him to commit fully to Indycar.
Last Sunday, just hours after the checkered flag was waved in Monaco, he made history as the first Spanish driver to win the Indy 500. However, he now tells the Indianapolis Star newspaper, "(F1) is not reaching out to me anymore. I still keep an eye on it. It’s a massive series. It’s incredible. I’m a big admirer, but I don’t think they're having as much fun as I'm having here," Palou emphasized.
"I only find joy in driving and having fun with my team, so I believe (F1) is completely the opposite." Nonetheless, Palou has consistently been mentioned as a potential candidate for the new American Formula 1 project, Cadillac. However, he asserts that while interest from Formula 1 has dwindled, so has his wish to make the leap.
"I don’t want to leave now," he stated. "Even if they say, 'No, don’t worry, you can return in a year or two,' what if suddenly everyone else is here and I’m unable to keep up with them? It wasn’t on my mind last year, and it’s not on my mind this year," Palou shared. "It’s decreasing more and more every day, and with this (victory), it feels like, 'No, I want to win again.'"
Palou's reward for winning the Indy 500 was an impressive $4 million.
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