Strap yourself in, as we set off on a high-speed run through the latest F1 news headlines, from 12 October.<\/p>\n
Fernando Alonso got an unexpected mention as the court case involving Alex Palou and McLaren continues, while the team in papaya has been placed on high alert by rival Red Bull apparently solving a critical RB21 issue. All this and more, so let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n
Even Fernando Alonso couldn\u2019t win in IndyCar with McLaren<\/p>\n
A London High Court case is ongoing featuring multi-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou and McLaren, which is claiming $20.7 million in damages after Palou reneged on his contract.<\/p>\n
Palou\u2019s defence is based on his claim that he was \u201cdeceived\u201d \u2013 as per his solicitor Nick De Marco KC \u2013 by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, with the apparent inference of an F1 seat opportunity.<\/p>\n
Not dreaming of a McLaren IndyCar drive, Palou noted that even Alonso \u2013 a two-time World Champion and one of the \u201cbest drivers\u201d around \u2013 could not win with McLaren\u2019s IndyCar squad.<\/p>\n
Read more \u2013 Fernando Alonso unexpectedly drawn into McLaren v Palou court case<\/a><\/p>\n McLaren declare Max Verstappen and Red Bull \u2018in the game\u2019<\/p>\n With two wins in his last three races \u2013 and a result no lower than second in his latest four attempts \u2013 Max Verstappen has given himself an outside shot at claiming a fifth consecutive title.<\/p>\n McLaren team principal Andrea Stella considers Verstappen a threat to his drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. He suspects Red Bull \u201cmight have resolved both of these high-drag and Singapore factors\u201d which hamstrung them in the past.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 McLaren issues warning as \u2018extremely capable\u2019 Red Bull resolves weakness<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen declared \u2018by far the number one\u2019<\/p>\n Facing a Verstappen with improved Red Bull machinery, it means Piastri and Norris will need to fight off the absolute best driver in Formula 1.<\/p>\n At least that is the assessment of Verstappen made by former Ferrari president and team principal Luca di Montezemolo.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Max Verstappen \u2018by far the number one\u2019 F1 driver as former Ferrari chief weighs in<\/a><\/p>\n Charles Leclerc to become F1 \u2018silly season\u2019 major player?<\/p>\n Verstappen has been linked with a Mercedes move over the past few seasons. He could find his Red Bull future becoming a talking point again in F1 2026, depending on how the team starts out in the new era.<\/p>\n Could Charles Leclerc also be up for grabs? The frustration has shown in Leclerc over Ferrari\u2019s poor form recently, and his manager has hinted that a Ferrari exit could be on the cards for Leclerc at the end of his deal, should Ferrari not improve.<\/p>\n