The excitement and delight was etched across the face of Alex Palou on Friday afternoon after he drove Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren in FP1.
Palou is best known for his feats in IndyCar and he will be in the series again next season as he aims for more glory in the championship.
Indeed, he’s clearly a talented driver and as part of the wider McLaren family he got his opportunity to showcase exactly what he could do in an F1 car during FP1 at the United States Grand Prix.
Though, as to be expected, he was slower than Lando Norris during the session in the other McLaren, he still showed some good pace and seemed to be enjoying pushing the car, though he admitted he did not take it right to the limit.
Indeed, after the session, he spoke to the press here in Austin, and said that he was careful not to have an accident in the McLaren given Daniel Ricciardo needs to use it, but that he still got a huge sense of the unrivalled speed and downforce an F1 car provides:
“It’s fast, it’s insane! I was trying to take care of the car, obviously not trying to get in trouble with people that are going to race this weekend.
“This track, I think it’s pretty awesome for an F1 car, especially sector one. And it was beautiful to drive.”
Palou has driven previous F1 cars so obviously knows what it’s like to get behind the wheel of one of these machines but, at the same time, this was a proper opportunity to partake in an official F1 session and it’s clear he absolutely loved it.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 21: Alex Palou of Spain driving the (28) McLaren MCL36 Mercedes on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 21, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
He’s no stranger to speed having become one of the stars of IndyCar but it’s obvious that the McLaren left quite the impression on him during the one hour of running he managed on Friday.
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Keyword: F1: Alex Palou couldn't hide his excitement after driving the McLaren