IndyCar Rumor: Will Alex Palou step up to F1 with Red Bull Racing?

The IndyStar is rumoring that Red Bull Racing has expressed interest in placing four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou (pictured) in a Formula 1 ride for 2026 next to the team’s own four-time F1 champ Max Verstappen, sources with direct knowledge of the talks told them.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

As of now, rumors about IndyCar driver Alex Palou potentially moving to the Red Bull Formula 1 team in 2026 remain speculative and lack concrete evidence. Palou, a three-time IndyCar champion and standout performer in the 2025 season, has attracted attention for his exceptional talent, prompting occasional links to F1 teams, including Red Bull.

Some sources have suggested that Red Bull might consider him as a teammate for Max Verstappen, especially amid reported dissatisfaction with current drivers like Liam Lawson, who struggled in early 2025 races.

Additionally, Palou’s past connections with Verstappen through sim racing and his reputation as a top-tier driver have fueled these discussions.

However, Palou has consistently downplayed any interest in moving to F1, emphasizing his satisfaction with IndyCar. After his 2025 Indianapolis 500 win, he told the Indy Star that F1 “is not calling me anymore” and that he enjoys the camaraderie and fun of IndyCar more than what he perceives in F1. He has also dismissed rumors of talks with teams like Cadillac for 2026, stating he’s not seeking a change and is focused on securing another IndyCar title.

Reports of a long-term contract extension with Chip Ganassi Racing further suggest he intends to stay in IndyCar, potentially ruling out a near-term F1 move. However, it is believed that Palou’s contract with Ganassi does have an F1 out-clause.

While some insiders have cautioned against Palou joining Red Bull due to the intense pressure of racing alongside Verstappen and the team’s demand for instant results, no official confirmation of negotiations with Red Bull exists.

Other F1 teams, such as Cadillac, have been more prominently linked to Palou for their 2026 entry, but even those rumors have been met with skepticism from Palou and his teammates. Given his current dominance in IndyCar and lack of recent F1 testing, any move to Red Bull in 2026 appears unlikely unless significant new developments emerge.