McLaren has been accused of taking one of its former drivers “to the cleaners” by seeking a multi-million dollar figure in damages.
Representatives of the Woking-based organisation appeared at a London court this week amid a dispute with IndyCar star Alex Palou.
McLaren is seeking around $21 million from Palou after the 28-year-old breached his contract with the team.
The court in London was told earlier this week that Palou agreed in October 2022 to join McLaren Racing for the 2024 campaign. However, in August 2023, he declared he would not fulfil his contract.
According to PA News Agency, Palou refutes that he needs to pay any damages. Barristers representing the four-time IndyCar champion state the figure McLaren is seeking is “vastly inflated” and is a “bare-faced attempt to ‘take Mr Palou to the cleaners’”.
It also suggested that McLaren has since earned more than it has lost.
Having declined to fulfil his contract with McLaren, Palou remained an employee of Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR), where he has since become one of the most successful drivers in IndyCar history.
Paul Goulding KC was the legal representative for McLaren and stated Palou “cynically decided that a big money offer to stay with CGR was more important than honouring his contract”.
He added that the Spanish driver's “personal ambitions far outstrip his respect for his legal obligations” and suggested the financial and reputational damage suffered by McLaren is “far-reaching and likely to be long-term”.
Palou's barrister Nick De Marco KC outlined that his client signed with McLaren with the hope of obtaining an F1 drive.
However, it resulted in “disappointment of Mr Palou’s hopes and expectations” over an F1 seat and caused “the breakdown of Mr Palou’s confidence in McLaren”.
Palou is due to give evidence in court later in the trial.
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