Oscar Piastri is the linchpin in a multi-million-Dollar lawsuit between Alex Palou and McLaren. CEO Zak Brown appeared in London’s High Court this week as part of the ongoing $20.7-million damages case against the reigning IndyCar champion.
As such, Palou is accused of breaching a contract with McLaren. This happened after the Spaniard decided to continue with Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar. And it turns out Palou was only interested in a route to Formula 1 through McLaren.
PIASTRI DEAL
Speaking from the witness stand in London, Palou said: “The only attractive option with McLaren was the path to Formula 1. Therefore, my ambition was to get into the biggest single-seater race series in the world,” explained the Spaniard.
“However, when McLaren announced Oscar Piastri as its new rookie in late 2022, I was very upset and worried. I was even angry that McLaren had signed another rookie,” Palou lamented. Palou also told the court that Brown assured him his Formula 1 hopes were still alive. And that Piastri’s performance ‘would be measured against his own.’
ACCUSATIONS OF TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE
Moreover, Brown is alleged to have told Palou that the hiring of Piastri was not his decision. But rather that of former team principal Andreas Seidl. It was at this moment, the court heard, that Palou realised everything had changed and he chose to stay at Ganassi.
Furthermore, another report says Brown has been tampering with evidence. When he was confronted with WhatsApp screenshots suggesting McLaren staff to delete internal messages to ‘save themselves from lawsuits,’ the American flatly denied the allegations. High Court proceedings continue in London this week. – with GMM
