Red Bull Reports Interest in IndyCar Champion Palou for F1 Seat

Red Bull Racing has shown interest in signing four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou for a potential move to Formula 1, possibly to partner with Max Verstappen starting in the 2026 season. Despite Palou's dominant performance in IndyCar, including multiple championships and an Indy 500 win, he and his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, have denied any ongoing discussions with Red Bull. Palou previously had a contentious relationship with McLaren, including a legal dispute over an unfulfilled contract and reserve driver role, leading him to focus on his IndyCar career. Red Bull's motivation for pursuing Palou stems from struggles to find a competitive second driver to Verstappen, with recent teammates failing to match Verstappen's performance. Palou holds the necessary Super Licence points to race in F1, and his rising profile, especially in the U.S., makes him an attractive candidate. However, his current contract with Ganassi includes a significant buyout clause, making a move financially complex.