F1 fans are all saying the same thing about Alex Palou after being linked with 2026 Red Bull seat

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IndyCar star Alex Palou has been linked to a potential seat at Red Bull for the 2026 season, given Yuki Tsunoda is out of contract.

The Spanish driver has blown rivals away for another season in the American open-wheel series, taking his third consecutive title and fourth overall in 2025.

He has also won eight races this year, the most of any driver, including a win at the famous Indianapolis 500. Now Palou has been linked to a seat at Red Bull, which could see him partner Max Verstappen.

Former F1 commentator Will Buxton thinks it would be great to see Palou versus Verstappen, but also wants to see him achieve more in IndyCar. F1 fans took to the social media website X (formerly Twitter) to give their thoughts on the possibility.

F1 fans want to see ‘incredible talent’ Alex Palou in Red Bull

With Tsunoda out of contract for the 2026 season at Red Bull, Palou is seen as a potential option for the Milton Keynes squad given he has qualified for a super licence.

It wouldn’t be the first time a driver has made the switch from IndyCar, with Juan Pablo Montoya doing the same in 2001.

One fan thinks that Palou would be one of the first drivers who would not seem overwhelmed by Verstappen: “Wow! He may be the first driver that Max wouldn’t overwhelm!!”

Another fan thinks Palou has the potential to bring his IndyCar form to F1: “He is an incredible talent in IndyCar. If he wanted to stay, he would be one of, if not the greatest, American single-seater drivers in history. So if he can recreate that form in F1, he could be the answer.”

Fans have also compared Palou to other drivers on the current grid: “I rate Palou as high as Hulkenberg: not fantastic qualifiers, but a godly racecraft that keeps them out of trouble and always maximises the results. Both dominated chaotic series (A1GP for Hulk), so if it worked out for the Hulk, I don’t see why Palou isn’t worth the chance.”

Another compared Palou’s 2025 season with Verstappen’s dominance in 2023: “Well, managing tires is a key skill in #F1 and Palou showed he can do that better than anyone. Yesterday, at the end of the stint, he was 0.2 faster per lap. In such a short track, this is bigger than Verstappen’s 2023 pace advantage. And he is doing that in a spec series…”

IndyCar drivers are often snubbed by F1, so fans are happy to see a difference this time: “About time he was recognised by F1 teams. This could be huge if true!”

Another thinks Palou has nothing left to prove in the American series: “He’s got nothing left to prove in Indycar. If he wants to it’s an awesome opportunity. I don’t think the second seat has a hex on it though, it’s just that nobody has been good enough… yet.”

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Can Alex Palou make the switch to F1?

Tsunoda knows he is under pressure for the 2026 season and the speculation over Palou heading into the second half of the season will add to the intensity.

The chances of Palou earning a seat in F1 are probably unlikely unless he manages to get out of his current agreement with Chip Ganassi in IndyCar, which was recently the subject of a dispute with McLaren.

Palou has ambitions of racing in F1, having taken part in tests with McLaren recently. But the problem has always been the lack of available seats on the grid.

The addition of Cadillac in 2026 increases the grid to 22 cars, an extra two seats, although Palou has stated that he is currently not in contact with the American team.