LONDON :Four times IndyCar champion Alex Palou told a High Court hearing on Friday that racing in Formula One was his dream but a contract he signed with McLaren in 2022, and then broke, was "based on lies and false impressions".

The Spaniard, who won this year's Indianapolis 500, said in a witness statement he now felt Formula One was used by current champions McLaren as a "negotiating tactic" to get him to sign for their less competitive IndyCar team.

McLaren Racing are seeking some $20 million from the 28-year-old after he backed out of a move three years ago and stayed with the Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) outfit. The driver has admitted breach of contract but argues he owes nothing.

"My motivation in signing the March 2022 McLaren contract was that I had just won my first IndyCar Cham

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