IndyCar champion Alex Palou has ignited fresh debate within the motorsport world by making a striking prediction about the outcome of Formula 1‘s most coveted battle. Weighing in on the 2025 season’s dramatic developments, Palou’s championship forecast centers on the focus keyword: Alex Palou championship prediction, suggesting that had Max Verstappen raced in a McLaren, the results would have shifted remarkably before the Abu Dhabi finale.
Palou Sparks Conversation with Astonishing Assertion
Alex Palou’s commentary comes on the heels of McLaren’s first double title in nearly three decades, highlighted by Lando Norris capturing the Drivers’ Championship in a tense and closely-fought campaign. The season captivated fans as Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, suffered a significant collapse after commanding a 34-point lead in August, ultimately finishing third. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, the renowned Dutch driver, stunned audiences with a series of thrilling performances, narrowly missing out on defending his world title by just two points after making a late charge up the standings.
Despite recently settling a high-profile legal case with McLaren, Palou openly acknowledged Verstappen’s extraordinary skill. He firmly believes the championship might have concluded much earlier had Verstappen been behind the wheel of the MCL39.
“If Max Verstappen had driven the McLaren in 2025, he would have become World Champion two months before the end of the season. I am absolutely convinced of that,”
Palou declared emphatically to Mundo Deportivo. Piling on the praise, he added,
“Max is the only one in the field, I believe, who is capable of something like that.”
Both statements underline the high regard many hold for Verstappen’s powers on the track.
Confidence and Caution in Palou’s Self-Assessment
When the conversation shifted to his own chances in the same McLaren car, Palou remained both confident and reflective. Despite his vast IndyCar success, Palou’s experience in Formula 1 is limited to a single race appearance in Texas during 2022. He acknowledged the gap in F1-specific experience, but his belief in his personal capability remains strong.
“We’ll never know, but I believe in my abilities, so I suppose I’d have to answer yes,”
he admitted, hinting at both humility and untapped ambition should he ever get another chance at F1 competition.
Implications for McLaren and Ongoing Rivalries
Palou’s remarks add intensity to an already fervent rivalry between McLaren’s talented drivers and Formula 1 icon Max Verstappen. His championship prediction has fueled discussions regarding the ability of drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to maintain McLaren’s hard-fought supremacy in the field, especially given Verstappen’s nearly triumphant resurgence in 2025. With the season’s storyline hinging on dramatic reversals and razor-thin margins, the excitement for future showdowns continues to build.
As figures like Fernando Alonso and others from the paddock weigh in on the broader challenges facing today’s F1 competitors, every race and every comment increases anticipation. Palou’s candid assertion has not just reinforced Verstappen’s standing, but has also heightened interest in the ambitions of both up-and-coming and established names on the grid. The world of Formula 1 now looks ahead to another unpredictable season, where every championship prediction could spark yet another twist in the ongoing saga.
