Pato O’Ward, test and reserve driver at McLaren, has put his ambitions for a permanent seat in Formula 1 on the back burner. The Mexican is critical of the direction the sport is taking and states that the premier class is increasingly starting to resemble a ‘show’. Nevertheless, he still hopes for a test or free practice session as a final hurrah.
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O’Ward has been officially associated with McLaren’s Formula 1 team since 2022, but the flame that once burned to reach the grid has slowly extinguished. In an interview with Fox Deportes, the 25-year-old driver states that the current state of the sport no longer appeals to him.
Dreams
“The fire I had to drive in F1 wasn’t because of fame or money. It was because those cars were incredible. Driving those cars was impressive, watching them was impressive. But I feel like a little bit of that essence has been taken away every year. That pure feeling.”
IndyCar
O’Ward’s statements mark a turning point in his career. Where he previously hoped for a move to Europe, he now seems to be fully committing to his career in the United States. Last season, he finished second in the championship behind Alex Palou.
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“That’s why I’m very happy in IndyCar,” he concludes. “For me, this is currently the best racing class for a driver who really wants to race. Formula 1 now feels too much like a kind of show for me, too artificial. And honestly, that doesn’t appeal to me.”
Free practice
Nevertheless, the break with McLaren is not definitive. Although a permanent seat seems out of the picture, O’Ward still expects to be in action later this year. “Towards the end of the year, when the season is over, I think I will do a test and maybe even a free practice session in Formula 1. But I can’t say for sure yet, because nothing has been confirmed.”
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