The lengthy contractual saga surrounding IndyCar championship chief Alex Palou took one other wild twist Friday when the pinnacle of McLaren Racing advised his staff the Spaniard has “no intention of honoring his contract” with the staff subsequent yr.

In a letter despatched to the Arrow McLaren Racing workers by boss Zak Brown, a replica of which was obtained by The Related Press, Brown wrote that Palou had given him a number of assurances he’d be carrying papaya in 2024 and has already obtained an advance on his wage.

The letter was despatched to McLaren workers shortly after Friday’s ultimate IndyCar Sequence on-track session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Palou holds an 84-point lead over Josef Newgarden within the standings with 4 races remaining this season.

Palou begins eighth on Saturday on the Indianapolis highway course.

Palou final July upended the free agent market when he publicly rebuked Chip Ganassi Racing’s try to select up the choice Ganassi held on him for 2023. Palou stated he as a substitute was becoming a member of each McLaren’s IndyCar program and had a Components One contract.

Palou went public with the Ganassi dispute in a collection of social media posts and wrote “as I’ve just lately knowledgeable CGR, for private causes, I don’t intend to proceed with the staff after 2022.”

McLaren then instantly introduced Palou’s hiring with its personal social media submit that started: “¡Hola Alex!”

The social media posts turned a little bit of a joke within the racing world as drivers from different collection started utilizing Palou’s wording to replace their very own free agent standing.

Ganassi, although, wasn’t laughing.

He fought the defection and the perimeters settled by mediation with Palou remaining in IndyCar with Ganassi this yr, however testing as a reserve driver for McLaren on his off weekends. He was slated to hitch McLaren full-time on the finish of this IndyCar season, and was in full McLaren papaya-colored gear on the Miami Grand Prix in Could.

Brown’s letter to his staff didn’t point out what Palou plans to do in 2024, when he’s already contractually sure to McLaren. Brown and Ganassi are bitter rivals, and Ganassi initially gloated to The Related Press over Palou’s change of thoughts.

“We do not touch upon driver contracts. You realize that,” Ganassi then advised AP. “We as a staff work on wins and championships.”

Palou is presently closing in on his second IndyCar title in three years driving for Ganassi. The 26-year-old Spaniard is in his fourth season of IndyCar – three with Ganassi – however has lengthy held F1 ambitions.

“That is extremely disappointing contemplating the dedication he has made to us each straight and publicly and our important funding in him based mostly on that dedication,” Brown wrote to his workers.

“We devoted a number of time, cash and sources making ready to welcome Alex into our staff as a result of we believed in him and had been wanting ahead to IndyCar wins with him. Popping out of his staff dispute final fall, we had been assured by Alex of his dedication to Arrow McLaren mirrored within the contract he entered into with us.”

Brown stated he has been reassured by Palou a number of instances since this yr’s Indianapolis 500 in Could that he could be with McLaren subsequent yr. Due to these guarantees, Brown wrote “we have now paid him a big first cost towards his 2024 season along with the tens of millions of {dollars} towards growing him in our Components 1 testing program and in his reserve driver function with a possible drive in F1 sooner or later.”

Brown wrote that the McLaren expects Palou to honor his contract with the staff, however will pursue 2024 driver lineup potentialities because the dispute is settled. McLaren presently fields IndyCar groups for Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi.

“Sadly, it now seems our perception, dedication, funding and belief in Alex was misplaced as it’s not being reciprocated,” stated Brown, who will confer along with his IndyCar staff management on its future plans.

The staff was in dialogue of including a fourth automobile as soon as Palou joined so as to preserve Rosenqvist on the roster. Rosenqvist has lived in limbo the previous yr as his future with McLaren has rested with Palou’s choices.

“Now we have made clear to Alex that we anticipate him to honor and carry out beneath his contract with us. Nevertheless, the management staff and I are targeted on addressing our 2024 driver lineup so as to be ready if Alex doesn’t accomplish that.”