Palou, who made his debut in an official Components 1 session by contesting FP1 for McLaren at Circuit of The Americas on Friday, already has a superlicence.
However the Chip Ganassi Racing IndyCar driver, who will stay with the workforce subsequent yr after a protracted tug-of-war with Arrow McLaren SP, believes that AMSP rival and fellow McLaren F1 tester Patricio O’Ward has additionally achieved sufficient success to be worthy of a superlicence.
Each drivers have run three full IndyCar seasons and have 4 wins apiece, whereas Palou (15) has yet another podium end than his Mexican counterpart – who will contest FP1 for McLaren in Abu Dhabi.
Nevertheless, Palou gained the championship final season whereas 2018 Indy Lights title-winner O’Ward has not but completed greater than third.
Fellow IndyCar racer Colton Herta was linked with an F1 change with AlphaTauri for 2023, however the workforce as a substitute signed Nyck de Vries to switch Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly when it became clear Herta would not qualify for a superlicence.
This prompted McLaren boss Zak Brown to call for a review in the way superlicence rules are written.
Requested at COTA if he thought profitable IndyCar drivers ought to be granted extra factors, Palou mentioned: “Yeah, I do not suppose that is going to vary in any respect.
“I’ve my superlicence, I am completely happy, I do not care what occurs. However clearly, I believe it is very unfair that there is some sequence that they do not get sufficient license factors.
Alex Palou, McLaren MCL36
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Pato would not have [a superlicence] and he completed third within the [2021] championship, fourth within the [2020] championship, and seventh [this season].
“So I imply, a man that’s like that in 17 weekends racing towards folks that has 10 or 15 years of expertise in IndyCar, that man is able to doing quite a bit in F1.
“However that is the foundations, so hopefully they modify it sooner or later.
“I perceive that additionally the FIA need everyone to undergo Europe and never by means of different locations. But it surely’s true that you possibly can get extra factors by racing in, I do not know, a winter sequence in Thailand and profitable that than ending fifth in IndyCar.
“That is a bit like, I do not know if that is honest or not!”
Nevertheless, Palou insisted that he didn’t really feel that IndyCar ought to be on par with F2 with regard to superlicense factors granted.
“No, I believe the programme they’ve in F2 is nice,” he said.
“Should you end within the high three, you get a superlicense. That ought to be like that.
“However I believe they may possibly give slightly bit extra. I do not suppose we’re asking to match it.
Patricio O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Images
“We perceive that the FIA desires to have everyone undergo Europe’s path, and that is completely comprehensible.
“However I believe it’s best to give slightly bit extra significance in IndyCar principally due to the extent of the drivers and in addition how lengthy our season is.
“The monitor time we get, it is large in comparison with an F2 driver. And I am not saying that we’re higher however I imply, we’re able to going out and driving in F1.”
Williams revealed on Saturday that Carlin F2 driver Logan Sargeant will graduate to F1 with the team next year if he secures enough superlicence points.
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