Williams team principal James Vowles has revealed that reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou was at one point seriously considered for a 2025 seat with the British outfit – before the team ultimately secured the signature of his countryman Carlos Sainz.
Palou, who clinched his third IndyCar title last season and added the prestigious Indianapolis 500 to his growing list of achievements this year, had emerged as a potential candidate for a coveted place on the F1 grid.
However, as Vowles explained, several factors prevented the deal from progressing despite the 28-year-old’s impressive credentials, initially built on the European scene in the junior ranks and in Super Formula in Japan.
A Serious Candidate but Serious Hurdles
“Palou is super-fast,” Vowles told Auto Motor und Sport. “We had him on our list. But there were two problems.
“With his track record, he wouldn’t be a cheap starter. I reckon he plays in the price range beyond five million dollars.
“And, he wouldn’t be helped by a test or a Friday training session.
“Palou would have had to go through the same programme as an [Kimi] Antonelli or [Oliver] Bearman. They have completed up to 10,000 kilometres in old Formula 1 cars.
“That means he would have to take a year off and sacrifice himself completely to preparation. I can hardly imagine that he would want to do that given his status.”
While Palou’s pedigree is unquestionable – he is now the most successful active Spanish racing driver in terms of titles – his entrenched position in the NTT IndyCar Series, and the high level of commitment needed to transition into F1 at this stage in his career, made a switch less practical.
A Near-Miss for F1
Despite the obstacles enumerated by Vowles, Palou's F1 potential has long been recognised.
He took part in multiple private testing sessions with McLaren, impressing engineers and F1 insiders alike.
©McLaren
At one point, he was even set to race for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar, but a dramatic U-turn saw him remain with Chip Ganassi Racing – a move that sparked legal action from McLaren due to breach of contract.
In the end, it was Carlos Sainz, who deservedly got the nod from Williams. But Vowles’ comments reveal just how close Palou came to securing a move to Formula 1 – and how his stature in American motorsport continues to command attention, even across the Atlantic.
Read also: Williams faced FIA scrutiny over wind-tunnel access by F1 movie
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Vowles reveals why Williams ruled out Palou for 2025 F1 season F1i.com.
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