Earlier this week, speculation began circulating that Red Bull was considering IndyCar star Alex Palou as a potential future teammate for Max Verstappen. The story quickly gained traction, given Palou’s dominant form in IndyCar and the uncertainty around Red Bull’s second seat.

However, the rumour was swiftly shot down by both Palou’s current team and Red Bull themselves. Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing, dismissed the reports outright. “I read that myself, and there was nobody quoted in there,” Ganassi, quoted by AP, said.

“I talked to Palou, and he’s never spoken to anybody about it. I talked to his management and they know nothing, and I know nothing. I think it’s a clickbait story and somebody needs to brush up on their investigative journalism.” Ganassi also reminded reporters that Palou had already passed on an opportunity to leave for McLaren in 2023, reaffirming his loyalty to the team.

Palou himself is enjoying a career-defining season, having won eight of the first 16 races in 2025, including the prestigious Indianapolis 500, while on his way to a fourth IndyCar championship in five years. Such success naturally attracts international interest, but Ganassi made clear that while Formula 1 speculation is flattering, it does not reflect Palou’s reality.

“Everybody wants a driver that everybody else wants to have,” he said. “That means you have something that's really valuable. Do I think Formula 1 is the biggest threat? I think the biggest threat is ourselves - each of us. I work to create the best possible environment for our people, and it's the same for our drivers. I work to give them the best possible environment, and that's all I know how to do.”

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was equally blunt when asked about Palou’s name being linked to the team. He told Austria’s Kleine Zeitung that the reports were false, stating simply: “That’s not true.”

Instead, Red Bull’s focus remains on evaluating their own junior drivers, with Isack Hadjar impressing in his rookie Formula 1 campaign and Yuki Tsunoda under pressure to improve his form. Rising talents such as Arvid Lindblad are also in the mix for the future, but Palou is not part of that conversation.