Ganassi shuts down Alex Palou/Red Bull F1 rumors as “clickbait”

Earlier this week, reports emerged about Red Bull Racing showing a possible interest in recruiting Alex Palou to drive for the team in Formula 1.

However, in a Tuesday media availability, team owner Chip Ganassi asserted that these rumors surrounding his star driver are false.

“I read that myself, and there was nobody quoted in there,” said Ganassi, answering a question from AP’s Jenna Fryer. “I talked to Palou, and Palou says he’s never talked to anybody about it. I talked to his management and they know nothing about it, and I know nothing about it. I think it’s a clickbait story and somebody needs to brush up on their investigative journalism.”

He went on to say that Palou “had an opportunity to leave and he decided to stay,” referencing the attempt by McLaren to sign the Spaniard in 2023.

Palou has won four of the last four IndyCar championships, and he’s claimed eight wins in the first 16 races of the 2025 season. Palou’s incredible year also includes a victory in the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.

When later asked about the potential fight to keep Palou in the future as his continued success turns more heads in the racing world, Ganassi seemed unconcerned. 

“Everybody wants a driver that everybody else wants to have,” said Ganassi. “That means you have something that’s really valuable. Do I think Formula 1 is the biggest threat? I think the biggest threat is ourselves — each of us. I work to create the best possible environment for our people, and it’s the same for our drivers. I work to give them the best possible environment, and that’s all I know how to do. And it seems to be working. Alex had the opportunity to leave (McLaren deal) and he didn’t.”

Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

Photo by: Penske Entertainment

As for the general idea of Palou one day deciding to try Formula 1, Ganassi said, “I don’t stop people from doing those kinds of things,” but he also doesn’t think there is as much draw for drivers to cross over between the two series as there once was.

“I don’t think the draw there is what it used to be when we were growing up. There’s two or three (good) seats there, and outside of that — I wouldn’t want to see him [Palou] go and be the No. 2 driver anywhere … But every time I get a call from a Formula 1 driver, I don’t call the press up and say I got a phone call from somebody. We get calls all the time from Formula 1 drivers. But I don’t think it’s as interesting of a thing as it used to be — the draw one way or the other, for that matter. I think they’re both very specialized, and I don’t know how you go from winning the biggest race in the world (Indy 500) to one that’s not.”