The 2021 Indycar champion, seventeenth in Austin in the first free session, dominated by Carlos Sainz (1:36.857).
The times could have been misleading, because he did not mount the soft tires and focused on the set-up of the car for the race, but McLaren welcomed the premiere of alex palou with remarkable enthusiasm. Good job Alex. It was a good session with no problems. I hope you enjoyed, they sang to him on the radio. Yes, it was amazing, thank you very much. I am very happy, answered the barcelons. His seventeenth place in free practice at the US GP, three seconds behind the leader Carlos Sainz (1:36.857), seems like a prelude to something bigger. Alex’s talent is pure F1.
There are reasons to trust Palou, even when his short term with the Woking stable looks rather bleak. At the moment part behind Oscar Piastrifreshly signed from Alpine, Colton Hertha Y Duck O’Ward. Herta has the advantage of being American at a time when the Great Circus is looking for stars with that passport. The Mexican, meanwhile, is the personal bet of the executive director, Zack Brown. However, Palou arrives with his 2021 IndyCar champion aura. If Piastri, so arrogant and volcanic, does not convince as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardoleave a vacancy in 2024. And if McLaren fails, the figure of Palou can be projected towards other horizons.
Yesterday, under a huge Lone Star State flag, Alex hit a snag just short of seven minutes into the session. Just as he poked his MCL-36’s nose over the pit lane, Antonio Giovinazzia veteran looking for another chance, slammed his Haas into the turn 6 guards. A calamitous mistake, more like any other. rookie clueless. It was a day for the young, as Theo Pourchaire in Alfa Romeo, Logan Sergeant in Williams or Robert Schwartzmann at Ferrari, substitutes for Valtteri Bottas, Nicholas Latifi Y charles leclercrespectively.
intelligence behind the wheel
The care of the mechanics seemed an essential requirement in Austin and the McLaren engineers reminded him at the first opportunity. As soon as they discovered that his pace at turn 11 was too abrupt, they called for caution. And Alex, very relaxed, answered almost with a smile: “That’s because I’m here too fast. This car is crazy.” If he has stood out for anything since his arduous beginnings in GP3, it is for avoiding disasters like Giovinazzi’s. Since that time, when he shared the track with rivals like Stephen Ocon or Leclerc, has been perfecting his driving, which stands out for its exquisite intelligence.
That mental component distinguishes the chosen ones. Because it’s not just about understanding how the car behaves, or contributing something else to its performance, but about deciding at high speed. Before the rest. For this learning, his experience in the Japanese Super Formula was essential, where he arrived at the initiative of his manager, Roger Yasukawa. All already stood out for his courage on wet asphalt and his ability to choose the strategy in the pits and refueling.
That reading of the races has also been very useful in IndyCar. Even in a modest team, like Dale Coyne Racing, he has been able to minimize mistakes, to the point of imposing a style far removed from the American canon. Taking care of the tires and the suspensions, avoiding skidding, Palou made a place for himself in Chip Ganassi, not even being intimidated by the legendary Scott Dixon. His imperturbable character was on record throughout 2021, his year of glory.
Then the victories alternated with various retirements due to mechanical setbacks and grid penalties, but Alex never batted an eye. When his engine shredded in the final stretch of the 500 Mile his podium chances in Indianapolis vanished, but he attended the press with an exemplary attitude, without any outbursts, or out of place regrets. With that poise he has had to face the recent legal battle between Chip Ganassi and McLaren. He simply wanted to choose his own destiny. He now he has it in front of him.