IndyCar champion Alex Palou has delivered a takedown of both McLaren drivers by stating Max Verstappen would have won the Formula 1 title earlier had he been driving for the team.
The Woking-based squad celebrated its first double-title achievement in 27 years in 2025, with Lando Norris claiming the Drivers’ Championship at the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Norris’ success added to its retention of the Constructors’ Championship, which was secured at the Singapore Grand Prix.
But Norris’ defeat came amid a drop in results for Oscar Piastri, who ultimately squandered a 34-point lead he held in August, finishing third behind Norris and a resurgent Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman’s deficit to the Australian was three digits, but managed to only lose out on keeping hold of his crown by two points amid a string of marvellous performances.
Palou, who was involved in a contentious legal dispute with McLaren earlier in the year, weighed in on the team’s F1 triumphs, praising Verstappen as the sport’s greatest driver right now.
“If Max Verstappen had driven the McLaren in 2025, he would have become World Champion two months before the end of the season,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“I am absolutely convinced of that. Max is the only one in the field, I believe, who is capable of something like that.”
The Spaniard, who clinched his fourth IndyCar title last year – as well as his first Indy 500 win – was questioned as to whether he felt he could have challenged for the title had he been driving the all-conquering MCL39.
“We’ll never know, but I believe in my abilities, so I suppose I’d have to answer yes,” he replied.
“I only drove in one Formula 1 weekend, which was in Texas in 2022, so it’s hard to say how I would have fared in the 2025 McLaren.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris handed Helmut Marko praise in Red Bull F1 talks bombshell
Discussion about this post