Sensational rumours linking IndyCar star Alex Palou with a Red Bull F1 seat for 2026 have been firmly debunked by all parties involved, including Red Bull Racing, Palou's management, and his current IndyCar team.
Why it matters:
- The prospect of a dominant IndyCar champion like Alex Palou moving to F1, especially with a top team like Red Bull, would be a major story.
- Red Bull's second seat alongside Max Verstappen remains a key point of speculation for 2026, with current options like Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson facing questions about their long-term viability.
The rumour:
- US publication IndyStar initially claimed Red Bull Racing had expressed interest in signing Palou to partner Max Verstappen for the 2026 season.
- The report suggested sources with direct knowledge of talks to bring the Spaniard from IndyCar to F1.
The denials:
- Multiple sources within Red Bull Racing have explicitly denied that any such talks have been held.
- Palou's management flat-out denied the claims when approached by PlanetF1.com.
- Roger Yasukawa, Palou's representative, stated: "I have not talked to, nor have been contacted by any F1 team about Alex."
- IndyCar team boss Chip Ganassi dismissed the story as "clickbait," saying, "I talked to Palou. Palou says he's never talked to them [Red Bull], and doesn't know anything about it. I talked to his management, and they know nothing about it, and I know nothing about it."
- German publication F1-Insider speculated the story might have been planted by a former member of Palou's entourage.
Palou's perspective:
- Palou is an undisputed force in IndyCar, having won four of the last five championships, including this year's title and the Indy 500.
- Despite a potential 'out-clause' in his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, Palou's camp insists his focus remains entirely on IndyCar through the end of next year.
- The 28-year-old expressed a clear preference for winning in IndyCar over potentially being an "also-ran" in F1's midfield or consistently losing to Verstappen.
- "The fun part of being a racecar driver isn't being famous. I like winning races," Palou told IndyStar after winning this year's Indy 500.
The bigger picture:
- Red Bull's immediate focus has been on stability following the appointment of Laurent Mekies as the new team principal and CEO.
- With Verstappen committed until 2026, the team needs to secure a strong, reliable second driver. However, their current pool of junior drivers has not yet demonstrated the consistent firepower required for a championship-contending team.