Red Bull associated with Indycar driver Palou for 2026.

      The rumor highlights a more significant issue.

      A surprising name has resurfaced in the Formula 1 driver market—dominant multiple Indycar champion Alex Palou. According to Indy Star journalist Nathan Brown, "sources with direct knowledge of the talks" suggest that Red Bull is interested in the four-time title holder, currently racing for Chip Ganassi Racing.

      The 28-year-old Spaniard has been previously linked to F1 but has consistently claimed he is content in America and has moved on from pursuing a Formula 1 career. However, as the 2025 Indycar season wraps up, Palou could potentially be available.

      Palou's manager, Roger Yasukawa, stated to Marca: "We haven’t engaged with anyone in Formula 1 about Alex," noting that he is under a valid contract with Ganassi. That said, there are rumors of exit clauses should a top F1 team extend an offer, although a significant termination fee would be necessary.

      For Red Bull, this rumor underscores a deeper issue. Since Daniel Ricciardo's departure in 2018, the team has cycled through several drivers—Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda—without finding one capable of consistently keeping pace with Max Verstappen. The second seat has been a notable weakness in their constructors' championship efforts.

      Russian commentator Dmitry Popov addressed the Palou speculation on his YouTube channel. "An intriguing rumor about Palou. Their season is concluding, and he will essentially be free after Zandvoort. Plus, he possesses a super license, unlike (Colton) Herta. However, without experience, entering a challenging car like that could damage your reputation when competing against Max. He’s a hero and a four-time champion, and it would be tough to find yourself at the bottom of the grid frequently on unfamiliar tracks. Honestly, this rumor seems odd to me, but we’ll see.

      "There’s no smoke without fire," Popov added. "Maybe they’ll try to buy him out from Chip Ganassi next year."

      Former F1 driver Christian Danner informed German outlet Ran that other candidates seem more probable. "There are a few names that everyone is discussing," he noted. "(Isack) Hadjar is making a strong impression. Arvid Lindblad from Formula 2 is also very talented and fast. Yuki Tsunoda is still in contention, theoretically. But the primary issue isn’t the driver; it’s the car. Until the car performs, the second driver can't expect to be just two tenths behind Verstappen, which should be the minimum."