Alonso: Palou is 'Formula 1-level', just needs the right car

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Fernando Alonso knows a thing or two about hopping between racing series, and when it comes to fellow Spaniard Alex Palou, the two-time world champion believes the IndyCar ace is more than ready to take the plunge into Formula 1 – if the stars ever align.

Rumors linking Palou to Red Bull as a possible replacement for Yuki Tsunoda stirred the pot this week, before being swiftly shut down by IndyCar team owner Chip Ganassi as little more than mere “clickbait”.

Palou himself has played it cool, insisting he’s not missing anything by staying in IndyCar, where he has just clinched his fourth title in dominant fashion.

Still, Alonso gladly weighed in on the topic when queried by reporters ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

“For sure he’s Formula 1-level”

“It is a challenge, for sure,” Alonso said when asked if Palou could cut it in F1. “Well established drivers and teams here [in F1], and circuits and these kinds of things, but he has the talent and he has the level to adapt very quickly.

“Ultimately, it will depend on which car you have. If you are at the back of the grid, it seems that you are not adapting to the category and you're struggling with certain things and you make more mistakes because you try to overcome those and overdrive sometimes. And if you're in a fast car, everything is a little bit easier.

“I think for sure he's Formula 1-level, and if he has the chance, I will be very happy for him.”

From IndyCar to the F1 Paddock?

Palou’s credentials speak for themselves: four IndyCar titles, a maiden Indy 500 win last May, and a reputation as one of the sharpest drivers ever to race in the series.

Whether or not that translates into a real F1 seat remains to be seen, but Alonso knows from experience that the machinery makes the man. Put Palou in a midfield struggler and he might look lost. Hand him a rocket ship, and suddenly he’s the next big thing.

Read also:

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

And just in case Palou, Red Bull, or indeed anyone else is looking for career counseling? Alonso couldn’t resist sneaking in a cheeky plug.

Asked what advice he’d give Palou if he were his manager, the two-time world champion quipped:
“As I said already with Max [Verstappen] and Mercedes, [if] they want an advice, my email is always open.”

Classic Fernando – never missing a chance to add both gravitas and a grin to the conversation.

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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.