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Alex Palou's flying visit

Find out what our 2023 F1 Reserve Driver got up to during a busy 24-hour visit to the MTC

With 16 rounds over the next seven months in the NTT INDYCAR Series, Alex Palou’s schedule doesn’t allow for many extra-curricular activities, so when he had the opportunity to visit our HQ during a trip to the UK, there was a lot to fit in.

Alex is one of our Formula 1 team’s official Reserve Drivers for the 2023 campaign, supporting the team alongside his INDYCAR challenge, which kicked off in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March.

It wasn’t the Spaniard’s first experience of the McLaren Technology Centre: the 25-year-old has visited several times, initially as part of our Driver Development testing programme and more recently as one of our official Reserves. And no matter how many times he visits, Alex says the MTC never loses its sparkle.

“I love it, it is the best factory I’ve seen,” he elated. “It is not only a factory, it is more than that. The MTC is a museum, it’s full of history, and it feels really special. The factory has everything you need to improve as a racing driver.

Alex Palou United States GP

Alex drove the MCL36 during the first free practice session of the 2022 US Grand Prix

“Everyone knows about the MTC. Before coming for the first time, I had seen it on TV and in movies, but actually being here and seeing the lake, the cars, and everything inside the factory, was really special.

“It is great to be a part of the team, working with the engineers and the mechanics. Coming here for the first time, it felt real, and it was a special moment.”

It was a busy day for Alex, who only had 24 hours to visit the MTC during his trip the UK. During that time, Alex had his MCL60 seat fit and enjoyed lunch with CEO Zak Brown. The Spaniard also contributed to an engineering meeting and spent several hours on the simulator, just about squeezing in a couple of coffee breaks.

The relationship has come a long way since his first test with us - where he drove the MCL35M in Barcelona - Alex has gotten to know the team well and is continually blown away by what he sees.

“The team are great,” he continued. “We don’t have as many people working on the cars in INDYCAR, and we didn’t in junior racing either. Everybody in the team at McLaren works at the very highest level as well. Everyone is so professional, whether they are an engineer or working in media.

Alex Palou 2022 MTC

Alex enjoyed several visits to the MTC in 2022

“The engineers all know everything they could possibly know about every detail of the car. That creates a ton of work, which is great because you never stop, and you’re always learning a lot.”

As well as testing the MCL35M last year, Alex enjoyed time behind the wheel of our 2022 challenger, the MCL36, during the first free practice session of the US Grand Prix. During the 60-minute stint, Alex impressed inside the cockpit and said he feels he can play his part in pushing the team forward.

“I think it is good for the team to get feedback from different drivers with other experiences, such as myself,” he explained. “I can give the team different feedback on the car to what another driver might.

“At COTA last year in the US Grand Prix, I was able to feedback on what I felt, comparing it with what I was used to, and that may have been able to provide them with a different viewpoint for that weekend. I think it is good to have diverse drivers from different series.”