McLaren, Chip Ganassi and Alex Palou have released statements after a “final settlement” was reached after a high-profile UK legal case.
The Woking-based organisation and the four-time IndyCar champion were in court last year after the Spaniard broke a contract in 2023 to continue racing with Ganassi’s team.
Palou was sued by McLaren and sought $20 million, with the court concluding that Palou did indeed breach the contract, and handed it a fee that could rise to $12.6 million.
The original figure was reduced as Mr Justice Picken decided that Palou had committed no wrongdoing in regard to McLaren’s F1 operations, with Palou’s apparent realisation that the performances of Oscar Piastri would have limited his chances of landing a Grand Prix seat with the team.
Since the verdict in last month, all parties have been working on a settlement, which has now been agreed.
“I’m very pleased that we have reached a final settlement with Chip Ganassi Racing after a UK judge ruled in our favour in January,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown said in a statement.
“I want to thank the team working directly on the case for so many months, and everyone who supported us throughout the process. Pleased we can now return to battling things out on track and focus on what’s set to be an exciting IndyCar season.”
READ BELOW: Alex Palou’s statement
— Alex Palou Montalbo (@AlexPalou) February 27, 2026
Chip Ganassi glad to ‘leave matter behind us’
In his own statement, Chip Ganassi was thankful for McLaren to have agreed the fee and stated his wish that similar mistakes will not happen again.
“I am happy to confirm that we have reached a final settlement with McLaren Racing following a UK judge ruling in January,” he said.
“I cannot condone what happened and I am glad that the matter is now over. With the benefit of hindsight, I hope Alex has learned it’s important to keep good people around him, which he now does, so the events of 2023 are never repeated.
“I want to thank Zak and McLaren Racing for now giving us a chance to leave this matter behind us and fully focus on the exciting IndyCar season ahead.”
READ MORE – Paddock optimism for IndyCar’s new independent officiating board
Discussion about this post