Pato O’Ward fulfilled a significant milestone when he drove McLaren’s Formula 1 car during the Free Practice 1 session of the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix. Representing his home country, Mexico, the experience was particularly meaningful for O’Ward, who described it as a “dream come true.” His free practice run took place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, marking an important step in his burgeoning F1 career.

O’Ward was given the chance to drive Lando Norris’ car for the session, sharing the duties alongside full-time race driver Oscar Piastri. Throughout the hour-long stint, he maintained control of the vehicle and finished in a respectable 13th position, contributing valuable insights for the McLaren team on a weekend crucial for their championship aspirations.

Reflecting on his debut performance in front of his home crowd, O’Ward remarked:

“I would have loved to have some more chance, maybe on the hard to prepare for the soft. I can feel pretty pleased with with what I got out for myself, and with all the information that I was able to gather for the team, because they’re obviously in a pretty important title fight, and I’m obviously here to to make sure and to help that that they stay where they are. But it was a dream come true.”

—Pato O’Ward, F1 Driver

Confirming O’Ward’s Return to F1 at the 2025 Mexican GP

The McLaren Formula 1 team principal, Andrea Stella, revealed in May that Pato O’Ward will return to drive in the Free Practice 1 session of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, once again held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. This announcement confirms McLaren’s continued confidence in O’Ward’s potential as a future talent within the team’s driver lineup and provides him with another opportunity to further integrate into the world of Formula 1.

Challenges Faced in IndyCar’s 2025 Monterey Race

While Pato O’Ward is experiencing promising moments in Formula 1, he has also been competing fiercely in the 2025 IndyCar season. After 14 rounds, he sits second in the championship standings with 469 points, trailing leader Alex Palou. O’Ward had a strong starting position at the recent Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, beginning from P2, but was unable to secure a podium finish, ending the race in fourth place.

His post-race reaction to his performance in Monterey reflected his frustration over the lack of pace:

“I just didn’t feel like I had the performance today. There were cars giving me a lot of pressure from behind. It felt like we extracted the most out of what we had. Congrats to Christian on the podium, and I’m happy for Arrow McLaren with our most podiums we’ve ever had in a season. There are still three races to go. We’re going to keep pushing, but the 10 car just keeps winning.”

—Pato O’Ward, IndyCar Driver

This result has left O’Ward with a steep hill to climb, as his championship deficit to Palou is now 121 points with only three races remaining. The upcoming race on the calendar is the Brintile.com Grand Prix of Portland, where O’Ward will aim to narrow the gap before the season concludes.

Significance of O’Ward’s Dual Racing Commitments

Pato O’Ward’s dual presence in top-tier racing series highlights his determination and adaptability as he navigates both Formula 1 and IndyCar commitments. His initial involvement with McLaren F1, especially in his home country, positions him as a promising candidate for a full-time F1 seat in the future. Meanwhile, the ongoing IndyCar championship battle underlines his competitive spirit and desire to succeed across multiple motorsport disciplines.

His scheduled participation in the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix Free Practice reflects McLaren’s strategy to gradually integrate O’Ward into their F1 operations, allowing him to gain experience on key circuits while continuing to chase success in IndyCar. This dual approach could extend his racing career opportunities significantly, providing benefits to both him and the teams he represents.