Ganassi slams Palou-to-Red Bull rumors: ‘Just a clickbait story’

IndyCar titan Chip Ganassi has obliterated whispers linking his star driver, Alex Palou, to a supposed Formula 1 move to Red Bull, branding the rumors as nothing more than “clickbait” nonsense.

With Palou dominating IndyCar – clinching four titles in five years and a stunning Indianapolis 500 victory this season – Ganassi scoffed at the speculation, delivering a masterclass in shutting down baseless hype while taking a swipe at the rumor mill’s lack of rigor.

The buzz about Red Bull eyeing Palou for a 2026 seat alongside Max Verstappen surfaced last week, ahead of IndyCar’s round of racing in Milwaukee, but Ganassi didn’t hold back when asked about it bythe media on Tuesday.

“I read that myself, and there was nobody quoted in there,” he said, responding to a question from AP’s motorsport reporter Jenna Fryer.

“I talked to Palou, and Palou says he’s never talked to anybody about it. I talked to his management and they know nothing about it, and I know nothing about it. I think it’s a clickbait story and somebody needs to brush up on their investigative journalism.”

Ganassi’s scathing takedown didn’t stop there. He pointed out Palou’s loyalty to Chip Ganassi Racing, referencing the Spaniard’s decision to stay put when McLaren came calling in 2023.

“He had an opportunity to leave and he decided to stay,” Ganassi noted, underlining Palou’s commitment to the team that has propelled him to eight wins in 16 races this season alone.

The idea that Palou, fresh off his fourth IndyCar championship and an Indy 500 triumph, would jump ship for an unverified F1 seat was laughable to the veteran team owner.

F1’s Fading Allure

Ganassi didn’t just dismiss the Red Bull rumor; he questioned the very appeal of Formula 1 for a driver of Palou’s caliber. With IndyCar’s premier talent thriving in a team environment tailored to his success, Ganassi argued that F1’s glamour is overstated.

“I don’t think the draw there is what it used to be when we were growing up. There’s two or three (good) seats there, and outside of that – I wouldn’t want to see him [Palou] go and be the No. 2 driver anywhere,” he said.

“But every time I get a call from a Formula 1 driver, I don’t call the press up and say I got a phone call from somebody. We get calls all the time from Formula 1 drivers. But I don’t think it’s as interesting of a thing as it used to be – the draw one way or the other, for that matter.

“I think they’re both very specialized, and I don’t know how you go from winning the biggest race in the world [the Indy 500] to one that’s not.”

Ganassi’s confidence in retaining Palou is rooted in his philosophy of fostering a winning culture.

“Everybody wants a driver that everybody else wants to have,” he said. “That means you have something that’s really valuable.

“Do I think Formula 1 is the biggest threat? I think the biggest threat is ourselves—each of us.

“I work to create the best possible environment for our people, and it’s the same for our drivers. I work to give them the best possible environment, and that’s all I know how to do. And it seems to be working. Alex had the opportunity to leave and he didn’t.”

Read also:

• Herta shrugs off F1 path rumors: ‘I’m tired of that carrot’

Ganassi’s message is clear: Red Bull can enjoy the rumors, but Palou isn’t going anywhere.

With the Spaniard dominating IndyCar and racking up trophies, Ganassi’s only concern is keeping his driver happy where he is — and mocking the next batch of F1 gossip when it inevitably arrives.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook