Home / Sports / O'Ward Ditches F1 Dream for IndyCar
O'Ward Ditches F1 Dream for IndyCar
10 Jul
Summary
- O'Ward has politely asked to be released from his reserve driver role.
- He stated that racing in Formula One is no longer his dream.
- The driver expressed a desire to focus on IndyCar and enjoy life.
Mexican racer Pato O'Ward has declared that Formula One is no longer his aspiration and has requested to be released from his reserve driver duties with McLaren. O'Ward has participated in five practice sessions with the reigning champions since 2022.
He recently won the Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, a victory that highlighted his commitment to the IndyCar series. O'Ward has been confirmed in McLaren's 2027 lineup alongside Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist.
O'Ward shared that while grateful for the F1 experience, he has reached a point where he no longer actively pursues it. He expressed a strong preference for IndyCar, stating, "I love the series, that's where I want to be." He finds the current F1 cars unexciting and wishes to prioritize his life and happiness outside of that specific racing discipline.
Reflecting on his time associated with Formula One, O'Ward conveyed that it is not a place where he has found more enjoyment than in IndyCar. He views F1 as being placed on a pedestal, but ultimately found that the experience did not align with his personal satisfaction or racing desires.
