Palou and O'Ward in action with McLaren at Barcelona

©McLaren

IndyCar chargers Alex Palou and Pato O'Ward were in action with the McLaren F1 team at Barcelona on Wednesday as part of F1's authorized Testing of Previous Cars testing regulations.

The two drivers were scheduled to become teammates next season at Arrow McLaren SP, but a contract dispute between Palou and his current employer, Chip Ganassi Racing, was resolved this week in favour of the latter.

Palou will therefore remain with CGR in 2023, but as part of the Spaniard's agreement with his team, and with the IndyCar season concluding last weekend at Laguna Seca, the 25-year-old has been allowed to test with McLaren.

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Rosenqvist remains with Arrow McLaren SP for 2023 - Palou stays with CGR

Earlier today, as he announced that he would be back in CGR's #10 car next season, Palou said that he was "also grateful that @CGRTeams will allow me to pursue F1 testing with @McLarenF1 outside of my INDYCAR commitments".

While Palou will have made his F1 test debut at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Wednesday, O'Ward already had mileage behind the wheel of McLaren's 2021 car, having enjoyed an outing with the papaya squad at last year's post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

As McLaren evaluates its young guns, it is believed that O'Ward will be handed an FP1 outing with McLaren as part of the team's obligation this year to field a young driver in at least two official F1 practice sessions.

It's unclear if McLaren also plans on handing Palou an FP1 session, or Colton Herta who is also signed up with the Woking-based outfit's F1 testing programme.

However, the latter, who tested with McLaren in July at Portimao, has since been earmarked by Red Bull for a possible seat in 2023 with AlphaTauri, if the FIA grants the young American a superlicence exemption.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.