Pato O’Ward Reveals ‘Political’ Hurdle to F1 with Heartwarming Pledge to IndyCar after Move to F2 Failed to Materialise
In the high-stakes world of open-wheel racing, where dreams of Formula 1 glory often clash with the realities of bureaucracy and opportunity, Pato O’Ward has emerged as a beacon of resilience and loyalty. The 26-year-old Mexican sensation, a cornerstone of Arrow McLaren’s IndyCar program, recently laid bare the “political” barriers that have repeatedly thwarted his ascent to F1’s glittering grid. Speaking candidly ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, O’Ward not only recounted the frustrations of a stalled career trajectory but also delivered a poignant commitment to IndyCar, underscoring his deep-rooted affection for the series that has shaped him into one of its most electrifying talents.
O’Ward’s journey to this crossroads is a tale as gripping as any on-track duel. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, he burst onto the motorsport scene as a karting prodigy before scaling the North American open-wheel ladder with ruthless efficiency. By 2018, he dominated Indy Lights, clinching the championship with a string of commanding victories that outshone even future stars like Colton Herta. That triumph earned him a coveted spot in IndyCar for 2019, but it was his flirtation with F1 that truly ignited the headlines. Backed by Red Bull’s junior program, O’Ward dipped his toes into Formula 2 that same year, racing a handful of events and dazzling with raw speed on circuits like Monza and Spa-Francorchamps. The plan was clear: rack up points, secure a superlicense, and slot into Toro Rosso—now AlphaTauri—for the 2020 season, marking Mexico’s return to F1 since the legendary Sergio Pérez era.
But fate, or rather, the opaque machinations of the FIA, had other ideas. As O’Ward revealed in a heartfelt interview with ESPN Mexico, the roadblock was unmistakably “political.” Eager to bolster his superlicense tally, Red Bull dispatched him to Japan’s Super Formula series in 2019, a high-caliber feeder category known for honing F1 hopefuls. Yet logistical nightmares—clashing schedules, travel disruptions, and incomplete participation—meant he couldn’t finish the full championship. “I couldn’t get points because it was not the full championship,” O’Ward explained, his voice laced with the quiet frustration of a dream deferred. Compounding the issue, the FIA refused to award retroactive superlicense points for his Indy Lights conquests, a decision that reeked of favoritism toward European-centric pathways. Whispers in the paddock suggested protectionism: why fast-track a Mexican talent from the “lesser” American series when established European juniors were clamoring for seats? The move to F2, intended as a bridge, fizzled out entirely, leaving O’Ward sidelined and Red Bull’s faith waning.
This wasn’t a one-off setback. O’Ward’s F1 dalliance has been a seven-year tease, as he put it himself. From 2021 to 2024, he served as McLaren’s reserve driver, logging invaluable miles in young driver tests and even a free practice stint at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Woking squad, impressed by his IndyCar prowess— including back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 2023 and 2024 championships—dangled the carrot of a race seat. Yet, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked into long-term deals and performing at podium levels, the math never added up. “It’s been flirting with me since 2019,” O’Ward said, a wry smile betraying the exhaustion. “In 2019, everything was lined up, and then politics got in the way. What can you do?” He likened the ordeal to a persistent suitor who won’t take no for an answer, only to vanish when commitment is required. The FIA’s rigid superlicense criteria, which disproportionately value FIA-sanctioned European series over IndyCar’s oval-heavy spectacle, have long been criticized for stifling talent from outside the F1 bubble. O’Ward’s case exemplifies this: despite nine IndyCar wins, 16 poles, and 19 podiums, including a heart-stopping near-miss at the 2024 Indianapolis 500 where he led a record 92 laps before a late spin, he’s still viewed as an “untested” outsider.
Yet, amid the bitterness, O’Ward’s latest revelation carries a warmth that resonates far beyond the racing world. With F1’s door seemingly bolted shut—at least for 2026, when he vows to walk away from reserve duties if no seat materializes—he turned his gaze homeward, to IndyCar and, crucially, to Mexico. “When they give me my race in Mexico, I’ll never step on a Formula 1 paddock ever again,” he declared, his words igniting a firestorm of national pride. It’s a pledge that’s as much personal as it is patriotic: O’Ward, who has carried the weight of being Mexico’s lone open-wheel flagbearer since Pérez’s 2022 farewell, envisions an IndyCar Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Conversations between series officials and promoters are already underway for a potential 2026 debut, with O’Ward as the undeniable catalyst. “Pato is a big factor in all of that,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown affirmed earlier this year, acknowledging the driver’s star power that drew record crowds during his IndyCar demonstration laps in Mexico City last October.
This heartwarming vow isn’t mere rhetoric; it’s a lifeline for IndyCar, a series often overshadowed by F1’s global glamour. O’Ward has been vocal about the contrasts: F1’s neck-straining lateral Gs versus IndyCar’s brute-force wrestling without power steering—”like wrestling a bear,” he quipped. But it’s the latter’s unfiltered intensity, from 230-mph ovals to street-circuit chaos, that has forged him. “I want to give these guys their first championship,” he said of Arrow McLaren, echoing a 2022 sentiment that still burns bright. “I’d love to give them their first Indy 500 victory. That’s my focus.” His loyalty extends to pushing IndyCar’s evolution, critiquing the 2024 hybrid introduction as bringing “zero benefit” while advocating for innovations borrowed from F1, not direct rivalry.
At a time when peers like Alex Palou have silenced their F1 ambitions to chase IndyCar immortality, O’Ward’s stance feels revolutionary. It’s a reminder that true greatness isn’t confined to silver arrows; it’s in the grit of the Brickyard, the roar of Barber Motorsports, and the unyielding spirit of a driver who refuses to let politics dim his fire. As O’Ward prepares for another Mexico weekend—FP1 duties for McLaren’s F1 team juxtaposed against his IndyCar dreams—he embodies the bridge between worlds. F1 may have toyed with his heart, but IndyCar has won it. And if his pledge holds, a new chapter dawns: one where the papaya colors light up Mexico’s streets, proving that some hurdles, once leaped, lead to even greater horizons.
