Alex Palou has tried to race with Max Verstappen 'for a long time,' but it won't be in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
Despite speculation that Alex Palou and Max Verstappen would become teammates in October, Palou says he won't be doing a GT3 race with Verstappen.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
Reports recently surfaced that Verstappen – a four-time Formula One champion – would race in the GT3 class of the GT World Challenge Europe for its race in Portimão, Portugal, on Oct. 17 with Palou – a five-time IndyCar champion – as one of his teammates. While Verstappen may compete in the race for his Verstappen Racing team, Palou says he won't be joining.
"This is something we've been trying for a long time – to do a race together," Palou told IndyStar. "And we need to find the right weekend to do it for him and for me. But unfortunately this year, we won't be racing together, but we will try to see if we can make something happen in the future."
Palou, a Spanish driver, grew up karting against Verstappen, who's Dutch. With both drivers being born in 1997, they spent the early 2010s competing with one another before becoming the most accomplished open-wheel drivers of the 2020s.
For Palou, his IndyCar offseason will see him test IndyCar's new car, the Dallara IR28, Thursday on the IMS oval. He and his wife, Esther, also expect to welcome their second child in February.
Palou and Verstappen could race a sportscar together someday, but it won't be in 2026.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Alex Palou has tried to race with Max Verstappen 'for a long time,' but it won't be in 2026