McLaren’s Formula 1 reserve driver Alex Palou has received another outing in F1 machinery at the Hungaroring.
Palou, who races for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NTT IndyCar Series, was signed to McLaren in 2022 as part of a test programme.
He drove the 2020 and 2021 MCL35M car at tests in Barcelona and Spielberg last year before being announced as one of its reserve drivers for the 2023 season.
Palou is back behind the wheel of the MCL35M challenger today (Thursday, June 8) for a day of running.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-120x86.webp)
The Spanish driver is also part of the McLaren Driver Development programme that was announced earlier this year, which is headed by Emanuele Pirro.
Also part of the programme is McLaren’s IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward and Formula 4 competitor Ugo Ugochukwu.
Palou currently heads the Drviers’ Championship in the IndyCar Series ahead of ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson, having taken two race wins so far this year.
The 26-year-old emerged victorious at last weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix.
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-350x250.webp)
![Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri [McLaren] celebrate their 1-2 finish at the 2025 F1 Austrian GP](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lando-Norris-Oscar-Piastri-McLaren-F1-2025-1-360x180.webp)
