Rosenqvist doubts Palu will race in 2023

The ever-improving Swede, who finished third in Toronto today, has been retained by McLaren Racing after this year but is fighting to keep his place in Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar team third season.

AMSP will be expanded to three full-time days in 2023, and Pata O’Ward and the current Autosport Andretti driver Alexander Rossi already confirmed, rumors linking Rosenqvist with future McLaren team in Formula E. Meanwhile, McLaren has also signed current Ganassi driver and reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palu but, as with Rosenqvist, did not say where he would race.

The only thing that has been confirmed is that Palu, like IndyCar rivals O’Ward and Colton Herta, will be part of McLaren’s F1 test program, but the matter is overshadowed by a dispute between Chip Ganassi and McLaren CEO Zach Brown. Ganassi insists he chose Palau before the 25-year-old Spaniard signed for McLaren.

When asked if he still felt there was any chance he could keep his current ride in light of Paul’s imminent arrival, Rosenqvist said, “From the looks of things, it looks like Alex… I mean, I don’t know what’s going on there.

“At the moment it looks like he won’t be racing at all. Yes, it’s a matter of lawyers and so on. Honestly, it’s none of my business. I think, to be honest, it didn’t change anything. This whole deal happened a few months ago. I didn’t know all the details that I know now, but nothing really changed.

“I think if Zac was sure that I was going to do Formula E, he would have said that by now. I’m going to take this chance. If I get a chance to be here next year, I’ll try to prove that I can do it.”

Immediately after his podium finish, Rosenqvist told NBC Sports Peacock live streaming service that he hoped his weekend performance left Brown ‘questioning some things’. When his vox pop ended, he was in fourth place Graham Rahal stood by and said that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing would be glad to hire Rosenquist “if we had room in the tavern.”

Asked about his own remark, Rahal’s comments and whether he could find a ride elsewhere to stay in IndyCar, Rosenqvist said, “That’s totally up to Zach. I said I was very happy with the team. I think it shows – super group. I think we have worked hard the last two years to build a very strong team. We have a good strategy, good pit stops. I think I can get the most out of the car most weekends now.

“I think if you had asked me at the end of last year, obviously there would have been a different answer. But right now I’m just very happy where I am. I think I’d be crazy to say I wanted to go anywhere else…

“I want to be where I am now. I think the Arrow McLaren SP has pretty much become home for me.

“Yeah, it depends on Zach. He is a man who takes steps. It may be a few weeks before we know more. I hope today has changed something. My ambition is to continue to prove it.”