McLaren Racing CEO Zac Brown has described claims made by Alex Palou through the Spaniard’s trial for breaching his IndyCar contract as “patently ridiculous”.
McLaren is looking for practically $20 million in damages after Palou backed out of his transfer from Chip Ganassi Racing on the finish of 2023, selecting to stay with Ganassi and win three consecutive IndyCar championships from 2023 to 2025. McLaren claims it has not solely missed out on monitor success with IndyCar, but in addition suffered a success in sponsorship offers and the salaries of different drivers.
The case is being heard on the Excessive Courtroom in London, and in a witness assertion final Friday, Palou claimed that Brawn informed him it was the choice of then-McLaren F1 group principal Andreas Seidl to signal Oscar Piastri.
“Zac informed me that Oscar’s efficiency can be evaluated in opposition to mine in terms of the 2024 seat,” Palou added, claiming he had been misled about his probabilities of successful a race seat with McLaren in F1 as a part of contract negotiations with IndyCar.
Brown attended a number of days of hearings and was questioned by Palou’s attorneys, with the four-time IndyCar champion admitting breach of contract however insisting he owed nothing and that McLaren had mitigated his losses.
“I am unsure which of the allegations amused me extra: the concept I am not the one making vital choices in regards to the driver line-up, or the suggestion that I did not conform to signing the very proficient Oscar Piastri,” Brown was quoted as saying by Reuters. “Each allegations are obviously ridiculous and anybody who follows our sport will see them within the face.”
Unconcerned that the allegations in courtroom may injury his relationship with Piastri, Brown claimed he had joked with Piastri in regards to the state of affairs earlier than this weekend’s US Grand Prix.
“We now have the best possible driver duo on the F1 grid in Oscar and Lando (Norris) and I could not be extra enthusiastic about their unimaginable efficiency and sportsmanship,” he mentioned. “I’m excited to see some nice racing for the remainder of the season.”
The F1 race in Austin coincides with a suspension of the trial, which is predicted to renew on October 20 and proceed into November.
