McLaren will use IndyCar stars Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward in some Formula 1 free practice sessions, the Woking team announced on Friday. Palou, the 2021 IndyCar champion, will drive in the first free practice session next Friday at Circuit of the Americas, in Texas. The Catalan will field Daniel Ricciardo’s car for the 60-minute session.
“I am very excited to make my F1 weekend debut,” said Palou. “It’s great to drive in America in front of fans who might have seen me race in IndyCar,” he added.
O’Ward will drive Lando Norris’ car in the first practice session of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Mexican took part in the young driver test at that track for McLaren in December.
Palou and O’Ward have tested the F1 car twice for McLaren since the IndyCar season ended last month, in Barcelona and Austria. “Alex and Pato impressed with their recent tests,” said McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl. “This is a great opportunity for them to show their skills on the global stage of Formula One, where the focus is on helping the team prepare for the race weekend and not on the final lap times.”
McLaren tried to bring Palou, who signed with the team, but ultimately kept his current contract with Chip Ganassi Racing. Ganassi had a 2023 option on Palou, exercised it, and then failed to reach a purchase agreement with McLaren when Palou said he was leaving Ganassi. He will now end his contract with Ganassi, allowed to test an F1 car for McLaren, and will officially join McLaren in 2024.
Source: La Verdad
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