Carlos Sainz has weighed in on the rumours linking four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou with a potential move to Formula 1.
Reports linking the Spanish driver with a move across the pond have been swirling around for a while.
The 28-year-old has built a solid reputation for himself after his exploits in IndyCar, even earning him an FP1 slot with McLaren in 2022.
Now, with Red Bull’s persistent struggles with its second race seat, the rumour mill has started churning again with suggestions that the Milton Keynes-based squad is eyeing Palou.
Though Palou’s management was quick to dispel any links, media day on Thursday at the Dutch Grand Prix was loaded with questions surrounding a potential transition for Palou into F1, and how he could cope with it.
Sainz was tentative in contemplating such a scenario for a countryman, given the inherent differences between the two disciplines of motor racing.
“I can only say what I see in IndyCar is that he’s doing an incredible job,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“F1 is a completely different monster, both as a driver, as a car, but also as a formula it’s very different, I think, from anything else.
“So it’s impossible to predict how good he would be in Formula 1. I can only say that in IndyCar, he’s just doing things incredibly.
“He must be doing things really, really well to dominate the way he’s dominating in such a competitive category.”
Palou reacts to Red Bull F1 rumours
While Palou himself would be acutely aware that a transition to F1 would not be a walk in the park, it is an opportunity that not many drivers would be able to sidestep easily.
That said, the Spaniard himself has been pretty lukewarm in reacting to these links. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was the first to shut down these rumours.
But when prompted, Palou also quelled any suggestion that he was in contact with the six-time Constructors’ Champions.
“There’s been nothing, nothing at all. We have heard nothing from anyone,” he had said to Associated Press.
“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.”
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