Sainz on Palou’s Potential in Formula 1
The renowned Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has expressed his opinion on the possibility of Álex Palou, recent winner of the Indianapolis 500, making the switch to Formula 1.Palou, three-time IndyCar champion, secured his first Indianapolis 500 victory last weekend and appears poised to secure his third consecutive title this year, holding a 115-point lead over his closest competitor.
F1 no longer appeals to me.
Álex Palou
Palou stated that Formula 1 “is not in his plans” and that his interest in competing in it diminishes every day, especially after his recent victory.
Palou spent most of his junior career competing in Europe, including participations in F1 support races in GP3 and Formula 2. In 2020, he moved to IndyCar, where he won the title a year later with Chip Ganassi Racing.
In 2022 and 2023, he tested for McLaren in F1, including an appearance during a Friday practice session at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.
Sainz, who competed in karting with Palou when they were teenagers, believes that his Spanish compatriot has the talent to compete in F1 if he is interested.
Sainz stated: “I definitely believe it. I think someone who is capable of winning in Indy, in the Indianapolis 500, should at least have the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do in Formula 1.”
Sainz added: “I always valued Álex a lot because I was his teammate in cadets, and he was very fast in karting. But, speaking honestly, what he is doing in the United States is truly admirable.” Sainz concluded: “I think to dominate IndyCar, the way he is doing it, you have to be very good at what you do. Formula 1 is a completely different discipline, a different world, but I have nothing but respect and admiration for what Alex is doing in Indy.”Fernando Alonso, who participated in the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 and 2019 in search of the Triple Crown of Motorsport, also expressed his respect for Palou’s achievements in IndyCar.
Alonso said: “It’s great for Spain and it’s great for him to have won the Indianapolis 500 after winning the series. He’s doing very well there. I know that most drivers dream of Formula 1 and having a career here, but he had the opportunity in IndyCar and maximized it every day.”The two-time Formula 1 champion concluded: “He is a legend in IndyCar and will always be a legend in IndyCar, so I don’t think he misses Formula 1 and I am very happy for him because he is a very talented driver. We are following him from here with a lot of respect as fans. I was watching the race on Sunday and I was just hoping he would finally make it and he did, so I’m happy for him.”
