Alex Palou is being celebrated by his Spanish colleagues in Formula 1 following his victory in the Indianapolis 500. Fernando Alonso refers to him as an ‘IndyCar legend’, while Carlos Sainz believes he deserves a chance in the premier class of motorsport.
Alex Palou reached the pinnacle of his career last Sunday with his win in the Indy 500. The IndyCar champion of 2021, 2023, and 2024 has started the season strongly with five victories in six races and has already amassed twice as many points as his teammate, six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon. “First and foremost, it’s fantastic for Spain. It’s great for him to now have the Indy 500, after winning the series in a few consecutive seasons and currently leading the championship. He’s doing an amazing job there,” Fernando Alonso praised in front of the media in Barcelona.
Palou began his career in Europe and participated in four Formula 2 races in 2017. Carlos Sainz, who raced against the Spaniard earlier in his career, shares Alonso’s high praise for their compatriot. “I’ve always rated Alex very highly because I was his teammate in the cadets and he was very fast in karting in the cadets. But honestly, what he’s doing in America is something very admirable. I think to dominate in the way he’s dominating, you have to be very good at what you do,” he said. “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.”
Formula 1
Palou made his first and only appearance in Formula 1 during the first free practice of the United States Grand Prix in 2022. A dispute between his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, and McLaren, who had announced him as a future driver, ensured that it remained his only opportunity. However, Carlos Sainz is convinced of his potential: according to him, Palou is ‘definitely’ fast enough for Formula 1. “I think anyone who is capable of winning the Indy 500 should at some point at least get the chance to show what they can do in Formula 1. And if he is fast enough in Formula 1, then he should be welcome in Formula 1.”
But Alonso, who competed against Palou in the Indianapolis 500 in 2020, suspects that the 28-year-old driver is not interested in a switch. “I know that most drivers dream of a Formula 1 seat and a career here. But he got the chance in IndyCar and he maximized it every day. He is a legend in IndyCar and he will always be a legend in IndyCar,” he said. “So I think he doesn’t miss Formula 1. I am very happy for him, because he is a very, very talented driver. We follow him from here with a lot of respect and as a fan. I watched the race on Sunday and was just hoping that he would finally make it, and he did, so I am happy for him.”
