McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has strongly denied claims that he opposed the team’s decision to sign Australian driver Oscar Piastri, calling the suggestion “ludicrous” and “completely untrue.” His response follows testimony from IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who alleged during an ongoing legal battle that Brown had privately told him he was not in favor of hiring Piastri in 2022.
The dispute surfaced in a London court, where McLaren is suing Palou for around $20 million, alleging breach of contract after the Spaniard backed out of a deal to join McLaren’s IndyCar team. In his testimony, Palou claimed that Brown had said the decision to bring Piastri on board was made by then-team principal Andreas Seidl, and not by him personally.
Palou also suggested that his own potential move to Formula One was influenced by how Piastri performed during his debut season.
Brown, however, dismissed those claims in no uncertain terms. “I’m not sure which allegation amused me more — the idea that I wouldn’t be involved in choosing our Formula 1 driver line-up, or that I wasn’t supportive of signing Oscar,” Brown said. “Both are ludicrous. Anyone who follows McLaren or the sport closely will know I was fully behind Oscar from day one.”
Brown went on to explain that he has always had a hands-on role in McLaren’s driver decisions, and that he worked closely with Seidl and other team executives to secure Piastri’s signature after a highly publicized contract dispute between Alpine and McLaren in 2022. “Oscar was one of the most promising young drivers in the world at the time. We fought hard to sign him, and I was leading that effort. To suggest otherwise is simply false,” he added.
The situation stems from a complex series of negotiations that took place during the 2022 season, when McLaren sought to bring both Piastri and Palou into its fold — Piastri in Formula One and Palou in IndyCar, with potential crossover opportunities between the two series. Palou later walked away from the agreement, leading to McLaren’s legal action against him.
In court, Palou claimed that McLaren had “misled” him about his Formula One prospects, saying he was told that an F1 seat could be available if Piastri underperformed. Brown denied making any promises of that nature. “I never misled Alex. I never told him he would be guaranteed a Formula 1 seat,” he said. “There was some optionality depending on circumstances, but I was always clear about what was realistic.”
Brown further explained that while Palou was a valued driver and considered part of McLaren’s long-term plans, the signing of Piastri was always a priority for the Formula One team. “Oscar was signed because he’s an exceptional talent,” Brown said. “Alex was part of our wider racing family, and there were scenarios where he could have joined F1 in the future, but nothing was promised or implied as a certainty.”
The McLaren chief also emphasized his confidence in Piastri, who has since justified the team’s faith by emerging as one of the most consistent and competitive drivers on the grid. “We have the best driver pairing on the grid with Oscar and Lando Norris,” Brown said. “They push each other, they respect each other, and they deliver results. I couldn’t be more proud of what both of them have achieved this season.”
The ongoing legal case has drawn considerable attention within motorsport circles, not only because of its financial implications but also for the insight it offers into how top Formula One teams manage their driver programs across multiple categories.
Industry observers note that McLaren’s approach of integrating talent from Formula 1, IndyCar, and other series is ambitious but can create tension when expectations are not clearly managed.
Despite the court proceedings, McLaren has continued to excel on track. The team has already secured the Constructors’ Championship and remains in contention for the Drivers’ title, with both Piastri and Norris among the frontrunners. Brown credited this success to the team’s unity and focus amid distractions. “What’s happening off-track won’t derail us,” he insisted. “We’re a tight-knit group, and we’re focused on winning races and championships.”
The court case between McLaren and Palou is expected to continue into November, with further testimony anticipated from both sides before a ruling is delivered. For now, Brown remains firm that McLaren acted with transparency and integrity throughout the process. “We’re confident in our position, both legally and morally,” he said. “At McLaren, we do things the right way — and that includes how we handle our drivers.”