F1 team sues driver for more than $23 million.

Alex Palou, an IndyCar champion and potential Formula One driver, has backed out of his contract with McLaren, and the British automaker is suing him for more than $23 million.

Palou had “no outstanding obligation under any contract or agreement,” according to the September 29 filing in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales Commercial Court, which would prevent him from joining McLaren at the end of the IndyCar season.

Palou won the IndyCar championship this season by 78 points, his second championship in three years.
However, this summer, Palou informed McLaren that he would not be joining them, which sparked a legal dispute.

The 26-year-old had already been involved in a contract dispute over a plan to leave Chip Ganassi Racing a year early and sign on with McLaren as an IndyCar and reserve F1 driver, but that dispute was settled through mediation, allowing him to continue competing for CGN while also testing for McLaren this season.

Sad McLaren situation, says Palou.

Palou said to NBC last month, “I agree it’s sad.
“I’ve always tried to be a nice person, and I always thought I was acting morally.
That’s how my family taught me to do things, and then all of a sudden, I appear to be doing everything incorrectly. that I am unresponsive.
Additionally, I just act as I feel on any given day.
“.

According to reports, the funds McLaren are requesting are related to sponsorship they had hoped to receive because of his affiliation with the team, as well as the expenses related to grooming him for an F1 seat and a raise for his 2024 salary.

CEO Zak Brown stated: “Palou has no intention of honoring [sic] his contract with Arrow McLaren for the 2024 season and beyond.

“Considering the commitment he made to us directly and publicly, as well as the sizeable investment we made in him as a result of that commitment, this is incredibly disappointing.

“Because we believed in Alex and were excited to win IndyCar races with him, we invested a lot of time, money, and resources in getting ready to welcome Alex to our team.
“.