McLaren Boss Offers Update On Legal Claim Against Alex Palou - 'Go The Distance'

Alex Harrington | Aug 3, 2024

Sep 8, 2023; Salinas, California, USA; McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown speaks to announce driver David Malukas (18) move to Arrow McLaren Racing for the 2024 season before free practice at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has openly addressed the ongoing disputes surrounding driver Alex Palou. These disputes have, according to Brown, affected how McLaren and its motorsport teams are being perceived by the public. He's now given us an update on the legal proceedings against the driver.

Brown finds himself defending McLaren's reputation amid criticisms over handling driver agreements. This issue flared up notably after Alex Palou's reversal on a commitment to join McLaren for the 2024 season, opting instead to remain with his current team, Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR). This decision marked yet another twist in Palou's career, which had already seen dramatic turns in the previous years, including legal action from CGR's team boss in 2022—which eventually led to a settlement allowing Palou privileges like testing McLaren’s Formula 1 cars.

Palou’s decision had ripple effects across the grid, influencing the career paths of several drivers including Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas. These shifts have inadvertently framed McLaren as a hotbed for "contractual sagas", a label that Brown vigorously contests.

“It’s been disappointing and I understand it, it’s part of being high-profile as a team.

 “I think we’ve got an unfair branding around this driver situation, and then you have some of the drivers that chime in. I know everyone likes to take a poke; I certainly like to take a poke. So, if you’re going to poke, you’ve got to be able to take it back.

"But we brought Pato [O’Ward] into this sport, I’ve stuck with him. Alex Palou, we had a contract, we did our part. That created this domino effect. Alex [Rossi] saw through his contract. We’re giving Nolan a chance, a young American. We brought back Theo for [Toronto, to replace the injured Rossi]. And so, unfortunately, this Palou situation has kind of unfairly branded us as being difficult and ‘we’re tough on drivers’ when, actually, I think our relationship with our drivers is one of our greatest strengths."

The legal proceedings against Palou, concerning damages claims by McLaren, are underway and are expected to be resolved by late next year. Brown gives an update:

“It’s in legal process and it’s going to go the distance, 100%, and I think it’ll end up probably be sometime late next year." Obviously, McLaren is ready to pursue this aggressively.

“Even in Formula 1, with Carlos Sainz, we had an unbelievable relationship. Fernando Alonso, a great relationship, and with Daniel Ricciardo too. Our relationship with Lando, he’s been with us for six years. So, I actually quite pride myself and McLaren for the relationships that we have with drivers that drive for us currently and have driven for us in the past.”