Four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou is reportedly on Red Bull Racing‘s radar for the 2026 seat alongside Max Verstappen. With Yuki Tsunoda’s current contract expiring after the 2025 season, the Milton Keynes-based outfit is likely keeping all options open.
Palou secured his third consecutive IndyCar title two weeks ago, marking his fourth championship win. He has been linked to F1 in the past with the Red Bull rival team, McLaren Racing. However, things took a controversial turn after McLaren filed a lawsuit against him for an alleged breach of contract.
IndyStar reported Red Bull’s interest in Palou, but confirmed that neither the IndyCar driver nor his manager has held talks with the F1 team. Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing contract, which runs through 2026, has an exit clause that allows a potential F1 move. However, Red Bull will have to pay a hefty sum to buy him out for a 2026 seat.
Palou told IndyStar in May that F1 was no longer “calling him” and that there weren’t many options in F1 that he would consider switching over to, suggesting that his current IndyCar stint with CGR keeps him happy. He said:
“There’s not many seats I’d consider changing (for). I don’t really know there’s many seats I’d want to be in compared to the No. 10 car right now. It’s pretty tough to beat. The fun part of being a racecar driver isn’t being famous. I like winning races.”
Speaking of Red Bull, the team has been struggling with its second driver for over a year now. Tsunoda is Verstappen’s third teammate in the last year. Sergio Perez’s stint with Red Bull ended after the 2024 season. While rookie driver Liam Lawson replaced him for the 2025 season, his performances in the first two races pushed Red Bull to demote him to its junior F1 team, Racing Bulls.
The common challenge faced by most of Verstappen’s teammates is adapting to the car, which is reportedly suited to Verstappen. Tsunoda, who is pushing hard to get used to the RB21 F1 car, suggested that it could take a long time to tame the Red Bull challenger. He said:
“It depends on the driver, but also at the same time, I didn’t see yet so far the driver who probably got used to it in that car straight away. So that’s probably the fact.
“But at the same time, I feel I’m in the right direction, at least on the short runs. Also in terms of the whole package, I know there’s something to come as well into this year compared to Max. So once I get the full package, I still have good confidence that I can be in a level that they want. That’s what I’m working hard on.
“In terms of the long run is exactly the place that I’m still probably struggling at, but I’ll find a way. I saw a couple of driving styles that I can try that I never tried in my career in Formula 1. It’s just the learning stuff.”
He added:
“But maybe in the Red Bull, I had to build up, which for me is the right approach. I don’t think it’s a wrong approach, but just takes a bit of time. I don’t know if it’s going to take a whole season or not, but at least it’s positive that I’m going in the right direction.”
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