Alex Palou has given a definitive update regarding the speculation about him leaving IndyCar to join Formula 1. The Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) driver is currently enjoying a remarkable 2025 season, having won six of the nine races held so far. His latest triumph came at the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America on June 22, where he navigated a chaotic race filled with multiple caution periods and made the right strategic calls to secure victory. This win ended Kyle Kirkwood’s two-race winning streak; Kirkwood is the only driver to have beaten Palou this season.
Following his victory, Palou participated in an interview with SpeedFreaks, hosted by Kenny Sargent. Sargent expressed the opinion that IndyCar drivers might be superior to F1 drivers for two main reasons: the absence of power steering in Indy cars, which makes driving more physically demanding, and the diversity of tracks in IndyCar, including street circuits, road courses, and ovals. When asked for his opinion, Palou acknowledged the difficulty in comparing the two series directly, noting that he had driven an F1 car and found them impressive but very different. He agreed that IndyCar’s variety of track types demands versatility from drivers to be competitive for the championship.
Palou emphasized that the challenge of switching mentalities and driving styles from one weekend to another, due to the range of circuits, is what makes IndyCar special and enjoyable for him. He expressed his commitment to continue racing in IndyCar, stating, “So yeah, don’t you worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
Regarding his F1 aspirations, Palou had a partial opportunity when McLaren signed him as their reserve driver in 2023 and planned for him to race for their IndyCar team, Arrow McLaren, starting in 2024. However, Palou decided to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing instead, leading to an ongoing lawsuit from McLaren in UK commercial courts. Although there were rumors linking him to a potential move to Cadillac F1 in 2026, Palou no longer feels drawn to Formula 1.
Palou also reflected on Honda’s dominant performance in the 2025 IndyCar season. His win at Road America marked Honda’s ninth victory in nine races this season and their tenth consecutive win overall when including last year’s season finale at Nashville. Rival engine manufacturer Chevrolet has yet to win a race this season. Palou described Honda’s winning streak as “crazy” and “not normal,” highlighting that while sometimes they may not have been the outright fastest, they have consistently maximized their performance to secure wins. He praised Honda for their achievement and noted that the differences between drivers or engines are not huge, making Honda’s streak even more impressive.
After the Road America race, Palou extended his championship lead over Kyle Kirkwood to 93 points. The next IndyCar race weekend is scheduled at Mid-Ohio from July 4 to 6.
The article was written by Yash Kotak, a motorsports journalist at Sportskeeda with experience covering Formula 1 and other sports, who brings an objective and well-researched perspective to his reporting.
This detailed update clarifies that Alex Palou is firmly committed to IndyCar for now, despite previous links to Formula 1, and highlights his outstanding performance and Honda’s dominance in the current season.
