McLaren Confirm Pato O’Ward for Me…. read more
McLaren have officially confirmed that rising IndyCar sensation Pato O’Ward will once again participate in a Formula 1 race weekend, taking part in the Free Practice 1 (FP1) session at the Mexican Grand Prix later this year. The event is set to take place on October 24 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, where the Mexican-born driver will perform in front of his home crowd.
This marks the second time O’Ward will compete in FP1 at the Mexico City circuit, having previously replaced Lando Norris for the opening session of the same event in 2024. O’Ward, born in Monterrey, expressed his excitement about the opportunity to return to the F1 paddock, especially in his home country.
“I’m thrilled to be getting back in the car for FP1 at my home Grand Prix in Mexico,” O’Ward said in a statement. “The atmosphere and energy from the fans last year were incredible, and it was a great experience executing the programme the team had prepared. I can’t wait to do it again.”
Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren F1, praised O’Ward’s continued development and contribution. “Pato made a valuable impact during last year’s session and remains a strong performer in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Stella stated. “He is a key part of our reserve driver pool for the second consecutive year, and his participation in FP1 provides him with further experience while also ensuring we have versatile and capable talent available should we need it.”
O’Ward, now 26, will not only take the wheel in FP1 but will also contribute throughout the weekend by supporting the main race drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. He’ll assist in providing technical feedback to help with the setup of the cars ahead of the Grand Prix.
At this point in the season, McLaren are enjoying a strong start, leading the constructors’ standings after just six races. Oscar Piastri has emerged as the top McLaren driver, currently 16 points ahead of his teammate Lando Norris, following a dominant win at the Miami Grand Prix. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Max Verstappen sits third in the standings.
With McLaren pushing to secure back-to-back constructors’ titles, O’Ward’s participation in Mexico could be key in providing the team with additional data and insight to optimize performance heading into the final stretch of the season.
The move highlights McLaren’s strategy of integrating its wider driver pool into the F1 programme while giving promising talents like O’Ward the chance to showcase their skills on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
