The McLaren team announced this Friday that the Spanish driver Alex Palou will race with one of the two cars of the British team in the first free practice session of the Grand Prix of the Americas which will take place next week, from October 21 to 24, at the Austin (Texas) circuit.
“I’m very excited to be making my debut in an F1 weekend. It’s great to drive in the States in front of the fans who have seen me race in the INDYCAR. Having driven the 2021 McLaren MCL35M in some tests, I am looking forward to putting the MCL36 testing. I want to help the team in its preparation for the 2022 United States Grand Prix,” the Spaniard said in a statement from McLaren.
This will be the official debut of Palou, IndyCar champion in 2021, in the F1 championship. An opportunity that comes after the dispute between McLaren and Chip Ganassi which began on July 13 with the aim of having the Spaniard among its pilots, and which was resolved amicably between both parties on September 14.
Palou will continue to race in the US single-seater championship with Ganassi, and at the same time he is having the opportunity to perform test with McLaren and its Formula 1 cars.
Days after announcing the agreement, the Spaniard got into an F1 car for the first time in private tests organized by the British team at the Circuit of Montmelo (Barcelona, Catalonia). He shared experience with the Mexican pilot Pato O’Wardas they did last week at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Yes indeed, both tests were with the car from last seasonso Free Practice 1 that will take place on October 21, from 9:00 p.m. CEST (-2 GMT) to 10:00 p.m., will mean its premiere with the single-seaters of the new regulations that came into force in the 2022 season, which gave more importance to aerodynamics and made these bigger and heavier than before.
For this reason, the way of driving changes and Palou will have his first hour to acclimatize to a different vehicle on the track, after the good feelings of the two days of previous tests in which, as EFE learned, there were no timed times in search of the fastest lap but from McLaren they ended up very satisfied with the data and perseverance shown by the Spanish driver.
For its part, McLaren also confirmed the presence of O’Ward in Free Practice 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will close the season from November 18 to 20.
“I can’t wait to get out on the track in Abu Dhabi. I’ve developed as a driver and I’ve had a lot of fun testing last year’s car with the team, so it will be a great experience to drive the MCL36. Thanks to McLaren F1 for the opportunity,” said the Mexican.
An opportunity that Andrew SeidlMcLaren team boss in Formula 1, assured in the statement that both were won on the track.
“Alex and Pato impressed with their recent tests in Barcelona and Austria and we are delighted to offer you the experience in the MCL36. It is a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills on the global stage of Formula 1, where the focus will be on helping the team prepare for the race weekend and not on ultimate lap times,” he stated.
