Pato O’Ward underlines F1 ambition

Pato O’Ward has underlined how his dream to race in F1 one day is undiminished, despite his IndyCar commitments.

O’Ward will drive for Arrow McLaren SP in 2023, with him retaining strong links with the McLaren fire.

Indeed, we’ve seen him test in the McLaren F1 car, with him driving in Abu Dhabi in FP1 at the final Grand Prix weekend of the 2022 campaign, and at the time it was clear he loved the experience.

He said that he would be in CEO Zak Brown’s ear about further opportunities to run in an F1 car, though it remains to be seen when those will be happening, if at all of course.

For now, his main focus in 2023 will be challenging in IndyCar once again, but he does not deny that he dreams of being a full-time F1 driver one day:

“I feel like I can always come back to IndyCar and the window of getting to Formula 1 is quite a bit narrower,” said O’Ward.

“I’m already in IndyCar now and I feel like I’ve established myself as one of the title contenders every single year.

“I love IndyCar racing, it’s some of the best racing in the world, if not the best in terms of how competitive it is. But I grew up watching Formula 1 and I grew up with the F1 dream as many other drivers around the world.”

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 18: Pato O’Ward of Mexico driving the (28) McLaren MCL36 Mercedes on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 18, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

O’Ward said he was ‘very keen’ to make his F1 dream a reality, but admitted he did not know if and when it would happen.

For 2023, McLaren have Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the garage and they will be looking to drive the team up the grid and towards the top spots.

Alex Palou has been named as a reserve driver for McLaren for 2023, meanwhile, with him also set to compete in IndyCar once again next year.

You can keep up to date with all the latest F1 news, rumors and results right here at Give Me Sport.

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