Key figure's stunning Oscar Piastri claim amid Alex Palou-versus-McLaren court case
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou has hit out at McLaren and claimed CEO Zak Brown told him he did not make the decision to hire Oscar Piastri to drive for the Formula 1 team in 2023.
The four-time IndyCar champion and his management are locked in a tense legal battle with McLaren after the team accused them of an alleged breach of contract that cost the Woking-based team potential sponsorship money.
Palou is being sued AUD$30 million after the Spanish driver claimed he voided his Arrow McLaren contract as Brown was "leading him on" and he believed he had little prospect of moving to McLaren's F1 team after they signed Piastri.
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Oscar Piastri chatting with Zak Brown. Getty
His witness statement, submitted to the UK High Courts, records a damning statement that Palou met with team principal Brown in October 2022 to discuss the signing of the young Australian driver.
At this point, Palou had begun to doubt Brown and his ability to make well on his F1 opportunity promises.
"I went for dinner with Zak at Beaverbook near MTC [McLaren Technology Centre]," Palou's witness statement reads, according to Motorsport Magazine.
"Zak told me it was not his decision to hire Oscar.
"He said it was the decision of the team manager, Andreas Seidl.
"Zak told me Piastri's performance would be evaluated against mine for 2024. Zak said that, from his point of view, my chance of getting the F1 seat was not affected by Oscar.
"However, I knew everything had changed. From that point on, I started to be more willing to stay with CGR in the future."
Alex Palou. NurPhoto via Getty Images
As this witness statement was read out, Brown has vehemently denied any deception or promises made to Palou about F1 opportunities, saying the Spaniard was "a plan B or C'.
"I told him what the opportunities would be in F1," Brown said.
"I never told him he would be under consideration."
The ongoing court case has seen ugly barbs thrown, with Brown seen arguing with Palou's lawyers and accused of destroying evidence by utilising WhatsApp's 'disappearing messages' features.
Palou is now a dominant force in the IndyCar paddock with Chip Ganassi Racing, winning the championship four times and snatching an easy victory at this year's Indianapolis 500.
