McLaren Racing’s ongoing legal battle with Alex Palou has taken another twist, with the four-time IndyCar champion alleging in court that Zak Brown never wanted Oscar Piastri signed to the Formula 1 team.
The case, which began hearings in the UK High Court in late September 2025, centres on McLaren’s claim for more than $20 million (around £16 million) in damages after Palou walked away from a signed contract to join the team’s IndyCar programme and serve as a reserve driver for its F1 operation.
McLaren argues that Palou breached a binding agreement after previously committing to the move from Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR).
The Spaniard, however, says the team failed to deliver on assurances about his Formula 1 prospects - and that he was misled about his pathway to a full-time seat.
In his witness statement, Palou claims Brown told him during a dinner meeting near McLaren’s Technology Centre in October 2022 that he had not wanted Piastri to sign, and that then-Team Principal Andreas Seidl made the decision.
Palou says he was “very upset, worried and angry” when McLaren announced Piastri’s arrival for 2023, believing it effectively closed his own route to Formula 1.
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Palou also alleges that Brown reassured him at the time that Piastri’s deal “would not interfere” with his own ambitions and that his F1 opportunity remained intact.
But as McLaren locked in its Lando Norris–Piastri pairing through 2025, Palou says it became clear those assurances no longer reflected reality.
McLaren strongly disputes his version of events.
Brown has testified that Palou was never promised a race seat, describing him instead as a contingency option - a reserve should other drivers become unavailable or underperform.
The case has exposed rare insight into McLaren’s internal driver dealings and how teams manage multiple talents vying for limited F1 seats.
The High Court proceedings are expected to continue through October 2025, with further testimony and internal documents likely to shed more light on one of motorsport’s most complex contract disputes.
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