Alex Palou: “F1 was never my only goal”

After achieving his second title of IndyCar, Alex Palou back to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya a month ago, at Weekend Racingas the owner of his new lower category team, the Palou Motorsport, who competed in Eurocup3. There, one of the Sant Antoni de Vilamajor He attends this newspaper in front of the box of the group he works for, as the one most with engineers, mechanics and young talents, dirtying his vacation.

Many years later, he returned to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This time, as the owner of his own racing team with his father.

It’s a pleasure to be here, especially to be back at the Circuit, it’s always special to be here at home, and I’m with the Circuit’s Young Pilots Programme. And now, I’m back with our team (her and her father), which makes it even more special.

Why did you decide to create a team? With what it cost you to get to where you are today… isn’t it hard to look back on all your struggles with other young pilots looking for a good seat in the future? It is an exercise in sheer courage…

And stress! (laughs) A lot of stress. Spending a day here is difficult but at the same time good, because for example, we get to help a lot with one of the ‘rookies’ throughout the week and throughout the year and he is energetic. That’s what we want, try to help drivers and in the future give opportunities like the one I had thanks to Adrián Campos (and his team, Campos Racing), because without him I wouldn’t be here. I want to do it too. In the end, we love the race so much and this is the way to add more races to my calendar without having to get in the car. And the truth is that I am very happy.

[+] Watch the video of the interview with Àlex Palou

How are you following the progress of your new team from the United States? How do you get involved?

I’m with a lot of engineers, that’s where I can give a little opinion. I’m not an engineer, but I have experience with IndyCar as it works in the United States. As for the pilots, a lot depends on each other and the help each pilot needs. I help them a lot. I do a little simulator with them when I’m here and then I talk to them, watch the boards, and just comment. That gives them more confidence, to be able to ask for what they want. And I’m still learning! In motorsport you are always learning. But you give the pilots confidence that they have someone there who knows what they’re going through.

What key advice do you usually give to your young drivers?

This is something that totally depends on the person. For example, we have a driver who did not go through karting and has no basic knowledge, but has other knowledge because he has already done the formulas directly. Above all, the use of tires in qualifying, which is very important, because they only have 15 minutes and it almost dictates the result of the weekend. Many people are not used to giving 100%… but there are a thousand things like that.

Genís Marcó gave me a key for young people to remember: if you have the car to be 5th, you have to try to be 4th.

Yes, we always try… but it’s true that many drivers, and I include myself in the pack, always want to be in first position and there are days when we can’t. There are days when the car is not there, when you are not there, when the conditions are not there or someone is a little bit better than you. And you have to have that patience and know that it’s not your day and your day is to finish third. You should know that that is a good result and that you have to take home the points, the experience and everything else.

He has won two IndyCar titles in the last 3 years. In the academic year 2023 it was swept. Is the next challenge to achieve records in the United States or must win the Indy500?

Get as many championships as we can, which is not easy… this year we are very good but you never know what will happen next year, especially now that we will have a hybrid system, we don’t know how it will change , if it changes …and you have to adapt. And then the Indianapolis 500 is the biggest goal we have to achieve. It is very difficult. You only have one chance a year and it’s one day and you have to have everything perfect to win a race that sometimes counts more than a championship: you have to have a little luck, the strategies , you, the car, everything is perfect. We will continue to work hard without forgetting the championship. Let’s see if we can get more.

Do you think the 500 was cruel to you because you came so close to winning so many times?

No, I wouldn’t say that. I had an accident my first year, then we finished second… but it wasn’t harsh. In the end, Helio (Castroneves) was better than us. This year we came fourth… so it could be better, but it’s not bad. We will have experience so that when it is our day to win the 500 Miles. I hope it’s next year. And if not, then next time.

He had a difficult few years due to the negotiations for his future and the subsequent legal disputes, but inside the car he managed not to affect him, bringing out his best version and winning races and the his second title this year.

These last two years have not been easy. Now things are calmer and everyone knows a little more about what’s going to happen. Above all, this year I was able to focus more on the track, unlike in 2022, which was a more difficult year. It’s not perfect, but it has to be. It went as well as it could in 2022 and at least I am happy that in 2023 we were able to win the championship and show that what we did on the track was good and we didn’t let ourselves down because of what was happening outside.

F1 may or may not come in the future, but get rid of the ‘bailao’.

Yes, clearly. F1 was never my only goal. Obviously, all drivers want to be in Formula 1, but I always think that I became a driver who knew there were more opportunities. For me, being in the United States is like a dream and I know how lucky I am to be there in Indycar, with a car and a team to fight for victories. But hey… we had a chance at McLaren (in F1, as a tester). I think we made the most of it 100% in the tests with the old cars and then in COTA Free Practice 1 (in Austin 2022), where I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. But now I’m focused 100% on IndyCar and trying to win more titles.

He doesn’t think about F1, but he can check the car that Fernando Alonso recently built in Brazil, for example. Do you understand that he is doing races like this at the age of 42? How hard did he do against Pérez?

It is very difficult. I saw it live and it was amazing, above all, I think that defending with the same car is always difficult, and defending intelligently the way he did for 10 laps is very difficult. But if you have a car that is also worse and doesn’t have DRS, it has enormous merit. Do I understand that he is doing this at the age of 42? I think he will do the same at 44. I don’t think (age) will stop him (from his best performance). In fact, as he said and as I saw with my partner Scott Dixon, who is 43 years old, they don’t lose speed. Some people lose it, but there are others like Fernando or Dixon who don’t lose it and are smarter, have more experience and make plays like that without being able to speak.

Between Verstappen, Alonso and Hamilton… who would you go with?

I… well, I have a lot of friendship with Max Verstappen, I do some races with his virtual team with him. Just because of friendship and having a team with him in karts… I’ll stay with Max. What he is doing in F1 is incredible. In a superior car, but it has merit. In the end, no one can reach him. So I live with Max.

Agustín Canapino, IndyCar driver, said that you are an “alien” and that you are better than Max Verstappen because you are also fast on ovals.

We are very close friends and I think he liked to give me a little more attention than I deserved. We have a very good friendship. Obviously, I will not refuse. If they give you a compliment, take it, but I think they exaggerate a bit…

where is your roof

I think there is no ceiling for anything.

That means he believes he still has a lot of room for improvement.

Of course, sure.

What do you want drivers like Verstappen or Alonso to apply to your driving?

Phew! There are always things… for example, the strategy of the defense, knowing how to defend at all times and reading the race better. That’s why I have things to hide from Alonso. Also in some starts, which we don’t need in IndyCar because they were thrown away. And for Max (Verstappen), I will stay with speed. From each I would take a few things and put them in my pocket.

What message are you sending to Mundo Deportivo followers?

Thanks for the support and follow up all year. And we will see you soon on the track or in the networks with the news that Mundo Deportivo gives us. A hug to all!

To lift the title. Thank you for your time.

Yes! Thank you