Alex Palou

Who is Alex Palou?

Alexander Palou Montalbo was born on the 1st of April, 1997 in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain. Palou started karting in 2003, which he did until 2013. His biggest achievement in karting was winning the WSK Euro Series Championship in 2012.

Alex Palou GP3 Series

After a successful period of karting, Palou signed a GP3 Series contract with Campos Racing in 2015. He had a tough start to the season, but managed improve his results later that year. During the last race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, he clinched victory for the first time in his single seater career. This made him the first ever Spanish driver to win in the GP3 Series.

In 2016, the Spaniard continued to race for Campos Racing. His best result was a second place finish during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone Circuit. He ended up in 15th place in the overall standings.

Alex Palou in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 and Japanese F3

Palou took part in three World Series Formula V8 3.5 events in 2017. He claimed three pole positions and won one race. Palou also took part in two F2-races in 2017. He scored a total of five points.

Besides racing in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 and a few F2 races, Palou also competed in the the Japanese Formula 3 championship in 2017. He won three races and finished third in the championship, behind Mitsunori Takaboshi and Sho Tsuboi.

2018: FIA Formula 3 European Championship

In 2018, Alex Palou stayed in Europe for the entire year. He raced for Hitch Bullfrog GP in the 2018 FIA F3 European Championship. It was a good year for the Spanish driver, as he managed to score seven podium finishes. He ranked seventh in the overall standings.

Alex Palou in Super GT and Super Formula

Palou went back to the Pacific in 2019 to race with McLaren Customer Racing Japan in the Super GT GT300 class and in Super Formula with TCS Nakajima Racing. His year in Super GT wasn't that successful, as he only scored one podium and finished 15th in the championship. In Super Formula, on the other hand, things went a lot better for Palou. At Fuji Speedway, he started from pole position and won the race. In Suzuka he also started from pole, but a problem with his car dropped him to P19. He finished third in the championship.

Alex Palou IndyCar Series

During his time in Japan, Dale Coyne Racing invited Palou to test an IndyCar at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. His outrageous speed earned him a full-time IndyCar seat with Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. In his first race for the team, Palou was taken out by fellow rookie Rinus VeeKay. He clinched his first podium finish in IndyCar at Road America the same year.

Alex Palou Chip Ganassi Racing

After a difficult first year in the States, Palou moved to Chip Ganassi Racing to pursue his IndyCar-career. During the season opener at Barber Motorsports Park, Palou earned his maiden victory. Palou developed himself into a real title contender in 2021. He finished second at the Indianapolis 500, which earned him many points. Thanks in part to his strong performance at the Brickyard and two additional wins, Palou was crowned the 2021 IndyCar Series champion at the final race of the season in Long Beach.

In the beginning of the 2022 season, Palou showcased his prowess by securing podium finishes at St. Petersburg, Long Beach, and Barber. Outshining his Chip Ganassi teammates, he positioned himself strongly to defend his title in the early stages of the championship. Although he ultimately relinquished the title to Will Power of Team Penske, Palou still finished fifth in the championship (on countback, tying Scott McLaughlin with 510 points). He capped off the season with a dominant victory in the Laguna Seca finale, further solidifying his exceptional performance.

Alex Palou grabs pole for Indy 500

Palou kicked off his 2023 season with remarkable performances, securing top five finishes in four out of the first five races. His outstanding form culminated in a triumphant victory at the GMR Grand Prix, setting the stage for the highly anticipated 107th Indianapolis 500. During qualifying for the prestigious race, Palou achieved a extraordinary feat by clinching the pole position. Not only did he secure the coveted starting spot, but he also set a new pole record speed of 234.217 mph, surpassing Scott Dixon's previous record from the 2022.

Alex Palou McLaren F1

In September 2022, McLaren made an exciting announcement, revealing their signing of Palou for their Testing of Previous Cars program. This program granted Palou the opportunity to test the MCL35M, starting at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, followed by a session at the Red Bull Ring. Joining him in these tests was fellow IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward.

Palou's debut with McLaren occurred during the free practice session of the 2022 United States Grand Prix. Overwhelmed by the experience, Palou described the F1 car as "insane" and marveled at its incredible capabilities.

Building on this momentum, McLaren announced on 1 December 2022 that Palou would take on the role of reserve driver for the highly anticipated 2023 Formula One World Championship. This new position solidified Palou's involvement in the pinnacle of motorsport and set the stage for an exciting journey ahead.