Fresh off his Indy 500 win, Alex Palou questions any F1 move without title chances: “Why waste years with a team that can’t win?”
Alex Palou has once again dismissed the idea of moving to Formula 1, arguing that he sees no point in fighting in the midfield, which he considers a waste of time.
The three-time IndyCar champion also believes the timing is not right for a return to Europe, preferring to race in the United States, where he can compete for titles.
After recently winning his first Indianapolis 500 — one of the three legs of motorsport’s Triple Crown — calls for the Spaniard to make the jump to F1 have been growing.
But Palou remains uninterested for now, even though he admitted that reaching F1 was once his dream, having competed in F2 and F3 before moving to the U.S. via Japan, where he raced in 2019 ahead of his IndyCar debut in 2020.
When asked if the lack of recognition for his achievements in his native Spain and across continental Europe bothered him, Palou explained why it did not.
“Not really, because I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else,” Palou told Auto, Motor und Sport. “In IndyCar, I have an exceptional team and the chance to build something great.”
“And the competition is insane! Sure, we’ve had a great start to the season, but you always have to wait for the first practice session to know where you stand. I enjoy that uncertainty, due to such a tightly packed field.”
The 28-year-old has admirers in the F1 paddock, including Williams team principal James Vowles, who recently described Palou as “super fast.”
However, the scale of the challenge ahead is significant. Vowles has stated that Palou would need a year of testing to prepare for F1, and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has hinted that Palou slipped off the radar after moving to the U.S.
“Don’t get me wrong: I love Formula 1, and it was my dream, of course. But the timing just isn’t right,” Palou said when asked whether he would be ready to spend a year in private testing.
“And then it would have to be with a top team. Why should I waste three or four years with a team (Cadillac) that can’t win? That’s not how I see racing. I want to fight for wins — especially at the Indy 500 — and for championships. That’s the only way to be happy. And in my series, anyone can make it with talent.”
“No Formula 1, no problem, life goes on. This talk about me possibly joining Cadillac is mostly driven by fans or the media. I just follow it quietly, like a regular F1 spectator.”