McLaren Wins $12M Palou Case; Ferrari & Alpine Launch 2026 Cars

McLaren has been awarded over $12 million in damages following its legal victory against IndyCar star Alex Palou, while the 2026 season kicked into gear with launches from Ferrari and Alpine. However, Williams faces an early setback, confirming they will miss next week's Barcelona test due to delays with their new FW48.

Why it matters:

The McLaren verdict closes a contentious chapter and reinforces contract enforcement in motorsport, providing the team with financial restitution. For Williams, missing the first pre-season test is a significant blow given their aggressive strategy to sacrifice 2025 development to ace the new regulations, putting them immediately on the back foot against rivals who are already logging miles.

The details:

• McLaren vs. Palou: CEO Zak Brown hailed the "entirely appropriate result" after the team was awarded damages exceeding $12 million. Palou had reneged on a 2024 IndyCar deal with McLaren to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Ferrari SF-26: Lewis Hamilton completed the first shakedown laps at Fiorano following the official launch of the new SF-26, marking his first official track action with the team.
• Alpine A526: The Enstone squad launched their Mercedes-powered A526 after an earlier shakedown at Silverstone, signaling a fresh start with their new power unit supplier.
• Williams Setback: Carlos Sainz threw his support behind the team despite the announcement that the FW48 is not ready for the Barcelona test, citing delays in preparation.
• Racing Bulls: Dan Fallows has joined the team as Technical Director after leaving Aston Martin, tasked with guiding the lineup of Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad.

What's next:

Williams faces a critical race against time to prepare the FW48 for the next official running to minimize their developmental deficit. Meanwhile, the focus shifts to the Barcelona track to see how Ferrari and Alpine's new challengers perform against the rest of the grid.