Pato O’Ward Highlights the “Sexy” Element in His Honest Comparison Between IndyCar and F1 in Front of a Large Home Crowd Sparking ‘STUPID’ Controversy Over 2025 IndyCar Runner-Up
MEXICO CITY – The roar of the crowd at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was deafening on October 24, 2025, as Pato O’Ward, the charismatic Mexican star of IndyCar, stepped into the spotlight for the first time in a Formula 1 car on home soil. Filling in for McLaren’s Lando Norris during Free Practice 1 for the Mexican Grand Prix, O’Ward piloted the sleek MCL39 around his familiar track, drawing cheers from tens of thousands of flag-waving supporters. But it was off the circuit, in a candid interview with Vogue Mexico, where the 26-year-old ignited a firestorm. In a refreshingly blunt comparison between IndyCar and F1, O’Ward didn’t hold back, praising the “sexy” allure of F1’s engineering while defending IndyCar’s raw intensity. What followed was a wave of backlash labeling the remarks a “stupid” slight against the series where he clinched second place in the 2025 standings, leaving fans and pundits divided on whether it was honest insight or ungrateful shade.
O’Ward’s session on track was a triumph in itself. As McLaren’s reserve driver—a role he’s held since 2024—the Monterrey native clocked competitive laps in the MCL39, adapting quickly to F1’s ground-effect aerodynamics after years honing his skills in IndyCar’s high-downforce machines. “Driving this thing here, in front of my people, it’s like coming home but in a suit made for kings,” he said post-session, grinning ear-to-ear. The crowd, a sea of green, white, and red, chanted his name throughout, a stark contrast to the more reserved F1 atmosphere. For O’Ward, who finished runner-up to Alex Palou in the grueling 2025 IndyCar season, the moment felt like validation after a year of near-misses. He had battled mechanical gremlins at Mid-Ohio and a heartbreaking strategy call at Laguna Seca, yet racked up three wins—including a dominant defense of his Detroit Grand Prix title—and 532 points, just 28 shy of the championship.
Yet, the real drama unfolded in the media pen. Vogue, known for blending fashion with culture, cornered O’Ward on the differences between the two series he’s uniquely qualified to compare. Having tested F1 machinery multiple times since his 2022 debut with McLaren and logged over 200 IndyCar starts, he leaned into the question with his trademark candor. “IndyCar is like a street fight—brutal, close-quarters chaos where you’re inches from disaster at 230 mph on ovals,” he began, his eyes lighting up. “The G-forces hit you like a truck; I’ve walked away from crashes that felt like getting hit by a bus. But F1? Man, that’s the sexy one. The tech, the precision, the way this car hugs the apex like it’s whispering sweet nothings—it’s engineered seduction. IndyCar doesn’t pretend to be that; it’s pure, unfiltered racing heart.”
The word “sexy” landed like a spark in dry grass. Social media erupted almost immediately, with #PatoSexyF1 trending in Mexico and beyond. Fans in the stands, many donning O’Ward’s No. 5 Arrow McLaren caps, cheered the unapologetic shoutout to his homeland’s F1 event. “Pato gets it—F1 is glamour, IndyCar is grit. Love him for saying it here,” tweeted one supporter, @PatoManiaMX, capturing the sentiment of thousands who view O’Ward as a bridge between the series. His rising profile—839,000 Instagram followers, viral TikToks from onboards—has made him IndyCar’s unofficial ambassador, especially in Latin America, where he’s pushed for races in Mexico to tap untapped passion.
But not everyone was amused. Back in the U.S., IndyCar loyalists cried foul, accusing O’Ward of undermining the series that made him a star. “Calling F1 ‘sexy’ while we’re still picking gravel out of our teeth from Nashville? That’s stupid—pure ego from a guy who choked away the title,” blasted a Reddit thread on r/INDYCAR, amassing over 500 upvotes. Critics pointed to his 2025 season finale at Nashville Superspeedway, where a late caution dropped him from contention, fueling narratives of underperformance. Josef Newgarden, the two-time champ who edged O’Ward for second in 2024 before fading to fourth this year, playfully jabbed in a post-race vlog: “Pato’s got that F1 shine now—hope it doesn’t make our cars look too rugged.” The backlash escalated when McLaren CEO Zak Brown, in a team briefing, referenced O’Ward’s “healthy ego” as a motivator, which some interpreted as a subtle reprimand. On X, users like @IndyPurist called it “disloyalty from the runner-up who owes his super license to us,” igniting debates on whether O’Ward’s F1 flirtations distract from IndyCar’s purity.
Defenders, however, saw nuance. O’Ward has long advocated for IndyCar to carve its own path, not chase F1’s shadow. In a February 2025 interview with Bob Pockrass, he emphasized the physical toll: “F1’s crashes are survivable; IndyCar’s can rewrite your life—double the Gs, no mercy.” His “sexy” quip, they argued, highlighted F1’s marketing polish—carbon-fiber artistry and hybrid wizardry—without diminishing IndyCar’s wheel-to-wheel thrill. “It’s not a diss; it’s truth from someone who’s lived both,” said Arrow McLaren strategist Connor O’Leary. Indeed, O’Ward’s season stats tell a story of excellence: pole at St. Petersburg, fastest laps at Road America, and a podium charge at the Indy 500 that had the Brickyard buzzing. His runner-up finish marked his third straight top-three, solidifying him as Palou’s chief rival in a hybrid era that’s drawn record FOX viewership, up 15% from 2024.
The controversy underscores a broader tension in open-wheel racing. IndyCar, with its diverse calendars from street circuits to superspeedways, struggles for global eyeballs against F1’s Netflix-fueled dominance. O’Ward’s dual role amplifies this: At 26, he’s young enough for an F1 seat but committed to McLaren’s orange army. His Mexican GP outing, complete with a custom sombrero-embroidered firesuit designed by local artist Manuel Cuevas, boosted IndyCar’s visibility—organizers reported a 20% spike in crossover inquiries from F1 attendees. Yet, the “stupid” label stings, evoking past flare-ups like his 2023 plea for IndyCar to “stop competing” with F1 and focus on Americas expansion.
As the weekend progressed, O’Ward addressed the uproar head-on during a fan meet-and-greet. “I love IndyCar—it’s family, it’s fire. F1’s the dream dress-up, but my heart’s in the fight. Call it stupid if you want; I’ll keep winning to shut it down.” Laughter rippled through the crowd, diffusing the tension. With 2026 rumors swirling—could a full-time McLaren F1 promotion loom?—O’Ward’s words remind us: In racing, honesty accelerates as fast as the cars. Whether this “sexy” saga boosts his profile or bruises IndyCar’s, one thing’s clear: Pato O’Ward isn’t just racing; he’s redefining the conversation, one unfiltered truth at a time.
