Max Verstappen played down significance of Alex Palou rumours after the Spaniard’s own say, as other Red Bull-backed F1 drivers add on their future.
Ahead of the return of F1 from summer break, the rumour mill was in full swing after IndyCar champion Palou was linked to a potential Red Bull move in the future to partner Verstappen. Having secured his fourth title in America’s premier single-seater competition, he remains a hot property.
In the years gone by, Palou has been linked to a F1 move, but it never came through. He had a court case as well involving McLaren, but he stayed on with Chip Ganassi Racing all-through. Regarding the latest rumour, team boss Ganassi played down any remote possibility of it.
Few days on, Palou himself dropped it down, noting that it was probably a rumour created by a manager of another driver in IndyCar, who is eyeing the Spaniard’s seat. There’s been nothing, nothing at all,” he said to The Associated Press. “We have heard nothing from anyone.
“The only thing I’ve heard was it was a manager for some other driver in IndyCar who would like to have my seat who said it to start something.” Upon F1’s return from summer break, Verstappen was naturally asked about the Spaniard and if he will be an ideal choice beside him at Red Bull.
The Dutchman played down the situation on both ends. “It’s always so difficult to say [who is capable enough],” said Verstappen to media. “I know Alex already from go-karting times, and I think what he is achieving in IndyCar is incredible. It’s so impressive to see, but it’s impossible to know how people will do in F1 and it’s the same question the other way round – how would you do in Indycar?
“You have no idea. So, for me, it’s a bit of a waste of time to try to debate that. I’m just so happy to see doing so well in IndyCar and the way he’s been dominating.” Fellow countryman Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso would be happy to see Palou in F1, should he wishes to join.
He isn’t sure if anyone will leave a well established run, but he will be ready to advice if anyone comes knocking on his door like he opened his arms for Verstappen and Mercedes. “It is a challenge, for sure, well-established drivers and teams here, and circuits and this kind of thing, but he has the talent and he has the level to adapt very quickly,” said Alonso to media.
“Ultimately, it will depend on which car you have. If you are at the back of the grid, it seems that you are not adapting to the category, and you’re struggling with certain things, and you make more mistakes because you try to overcome those and overdrive sometimes. If you are in a fast car, everything is a little bit easier. So I don’t know.
“I think for sure, he’s Formula 1 level and if he has the chance, I will be very happy for him. I don’t know. I think, as I said already with Max and Mercedes, if they want advice, my email is always open.” Aside Verstappen and Alonso, the other Red Bull-backed drivers were asked more about their own future, rather than if they face any threat from Palou going forward.
Yuki Tsunoda is hoping to retain his seat for next season after revealing about Helmut Marko’s surprise, knowing the difference between two race packages. Since the Japanese’s incident, he has been on the backfoot in terms of development packages. Only in the last two rounds, he got the new floor.
He is still down on all of the fresh parts, but the difference in floor, surprised Marko. He is focused on scoring points and improving performance, which will ultimately help in retaining his seat or securing a different one, if it is that way. The pair of Visa Cash App RB drivers had similar thoughts.
Both Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson don’t feel pressure as such, but are focusing on performance rather than where they end up. The Frenchman seems to be safe at Visa Cash App RB at the least, but Lawson will face competition from Arvid Linblad, if the Brit aces in remainder of the F2 season.
Yuki Tsunoda: “Yeah, definitely I have to show more. But actually, the last two races before summer break, that helped a little bit. Probably they didn’t recognise that much, especially Helmut, that the difference between me and Max in terms of the package differences. And as soon as they introduced that, my pace suddenly much improved. And in Hungary, the difference between me and Max was very small since practice. And that shows that actually maybe has some potential. So I think I just keep what I’m doing, but also at the same time, still have to put it all together throughout the week, you can’t just probably rely on the pace. I need to score points. That’s why I was preparing for it during this summer break. I just need to score points as much as possible.
“In terms of time, we kind of agreed on what kind of time we are looking for me to show good performance, to let them decide what kind of contract they want for next year. But, let’s see. Maybe Helmut’s thinking in the background [about sending Tsunoda back to Racing Bulls]. I never know what he’s thinking, to be honest. But for now, I understand he’s looking for me to show the performance. I think last two races, actually, like I said, after I got upgrades, there’s some recognition from that performance. Actually, there’s a huge difference before that. And I think that helps him and myself to give a bit more time to see how this situation evolves. I think he supported me quite a lot. But obviously, he’s also quite a straightforward guy. He’s here for the team and he wants to have points as much as possible. So, I need to perform for sure.
“But if I understand it correctly, he’s still waiting a bit of time to define what’s good for Red Bull. And I think let’s see for Racing Bulls or whatever. They’re performing currently quite well. And it’s a team that I have been for a long time. So, obviously, my main goal is to still stick with Red Bull. But, let’s see. I leave it that with my team, my manager. I just focus on myself, the performance. My priority is to stay at Red Bull to show the performance as much as possible – that’s only my focus. It is not my job anyway to search around, my job is to drive fast and score points and it is the only things that I am working on. They do their thing and I am sure my performance will help anyway in those things, so looking forward to the races to show my performance.”
Isack Hadjar: “I mean, I don’t know myself [about my future], so I can’t help you. Sorry. “To be honest, it’s nothing really new to me. The road to F1 was more than uncertain as well. So, I’m used to not really knowing what I’m going to do next. I’m used to living in the present and giving my maximum. So, yeah, I’m not worried. I’m just focused.”
Liam Lawson: “I had two races, so I have no idea, yeah, I don’t have enough understanding, to be honest [about Red Bull being Verstappen’s team]. They [contract discussions] are always in the background but it is all performance based as we know, I am just focused on these last few races.”
Here’s Max Verstappen on lack of podiums and wins
Here’s Red Bull with new juniors
Here’s Yuki Tsunoda on frustration
