LONDON (AP) — Four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou arrived at the Commercial Court in London on Monday for the start of a civil trial in McLaren's breach-of-contract dispute with the Spanish driver.
Palou in 2022 signed a contract to drive for McLaren’s IndyCar team, but that put Palou in breach with Chip Ganassi Racing, which held an option on the driver for the 2023 season.
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IndyCar champion Alex Palou arrives at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou, left, with legal representative Kavan Bakhda arrive at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou, left, arrives with his legal team at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou arrives at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
That dispute was settled through mediation and Palou’s deal was amended to join McLaren in 2024, and Ganassi allowed him to be the Formula 1 reserve driver that year. Palou then stayed with Ganassi for 2024.
The dispute has rumbled on even as both McLaren and Palou have had plenty of on-track success. McLaren has become F1’s top team with its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battling one another for this year's title, while Palou won his latest IndyCar title last month.
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IndyCar champion Alex Palou arrives at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou, left, with legal representative Kavan Bakhda arrive at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou, left, arrives with his legal team at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
IndyCar champion Alex Palou arrives at court at the start of a breach of contract lawsuit with McLaren Racing, in London, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES, Spain (AP) — Horses galloped through towering flames on Friday in a centuries-old annual tradition in the Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares to honor St. Anthony the Abbott, the patron saint of animals.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
An assistant drinks wine from a bottle during a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Riders on their horses wait to jump over the bonfires as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A horse is prepared to take part in a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Men ride horses through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Attendees wait next to the bushes that will be set alight as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A horse is prepared to take part in a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Riders on their horses wait to jump over the bonfires as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
