'Alonso, Piastri and Palou show loyalty has no place in motor sport'

He might have good reason to regret how he handled some of those situations with specific individuals – but the moves themselves? As Alonso said in the interview, some of it was out of his hands anyway, that each move happened for a good reason. But whatever the circumstance, I would argue regret has no place when it comes to this aspect of his life, and that loyalty is certainly an irrelevance. Racing drivers are self-centred by nature, but they have to be. That’s the juicy contradiction at the heart of why we love this sport: yes, you need a great car and a great team behind you to achieve anything – but at heart it’s all about the drivers, the selfish, focused individuals who have to be out for themselves.

That ruthless attitude is surely apt for a few specific drivers facing their own big decisions in the next couple of years. I’m thinking specifically (but not exclusively) of Lando Norris, whose McLaren contract last until the end of 2025, and Charles Leclerc who must face questions about his Ferrari future beyond 2024. Both have shown patience and yes, loyalty in testing times at their teams. At least for Norris this year those qualities have been rewarded by McLaren’s remarkable upturn since the big upgrade introduced in Austria. But he still faces the same questions Leclerc must be asking himself: ‘Am I in the best place for me to become a world champion? Am I at a team capable of taking me to that height?’

Their loyalty does them credit, of course. Others have acted so too, although most are in the distant past. Stirling Moss only wanted to drive for his friend Rob Walker in the latter years of his career; Jim Clark had that bond with Colin Chapman and Lotus; Jackie Stewart chose Ken Tyrrell over Ferrari in 1968 and never wavered thereafter. But even in the so-called golden eras racing drivers were naturally opportunistic, most famously Juan Manuel Fangio, who always manoeuvred himself into the best car available and yet maintained his reputation as the finest of gentlemen beyond reproach. That was a mark of the man.

In a sport that relies completely on the machinery you have at your disposal, bettering your situation is a key part of the game. Ayrton Senna, who revered Fangio, took a leaf and then carried it to extremes as he calculated his moves, without sentiment, from Toleman to Lotus to McLaren and to Williams. How he handled those negotiations weren’t always with honour or grace, much like Alonso. But he was right every time to make those moves.

That’s why Alex Palou can probably justify taking such a ruthless approach to his future, in the ugly situation he has created between Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren. As we said last week, his actions haven’t done much for perceptions of his reputation as an honourable professional (although we don’t yet know the full story). But he is absolutely right to stick by his convictions and instincts on what he should do next. He has to because that’s at the core of what he does for a living. Zak Brown might well be justified in pursuing a legal case against Palou after all McLaren has invested in the standout IndyCar star. He also has a right to be personally disappointed in the 26-year-old. But he shouldn’t be surprised. Palou is a top racing driver and that means he must be self-centred. Regrets might linger for the Spaniard, perhaps even now, never mind in the future – but only in terms of personal frictions.

Contractual dishonour is sometimes necessary when your future is on the line. Jenson Button knew that when he tried to leave BAR for Williams for 2005, found himself barred from doing so, then changed his mind the following year and stayed put when Williams lost its way. He did what he had to do for his own selfish needs, as he had to – as did Oscar Piastri when he lost patience waiting for Alpine to give him his F1 chance last year and jumped into the arms of McLaren. Brown knows how it works, especially now he’s been on both sides of such driver whims.

Of course, this stuff isn’t pretty. But racing drivers should never feel beholden to racing teams, even if they are grateful for opportunities. Norris owes nothing to McLaren. Yes, it handed him his F1 chance as a mere teenager, but only because it knew he was good enough to step up. The team took a chance on him, but that faith was repaid long ago by Norris’s commitment and input. For Norris, that should all be in the distant past now. All he needs to focus on is the present, assess what he needs in the future, decide whether he’ll get it at McLaren – and make his choice. The same with Leclerc, and for that matter Lewis Hamilton and whether he signs another Mercedes contract.

Nothing else comes into. Of course human relationships matter and honour in business is preferable – but when it comes to the crunch, top drivers have to be ruthless. Senna ruthless. Regret is part of life, always, and perhaps in the brutal world of F1 it’s unavoidable. But that shouldn’t necessarily make you think twice. Just ask Alonso.