PATO O’WARD PUTS INDYCAR FIRST AND LEAVES FORMULA 1
Pato O’Ward told The Race he has stepped away from his Formula 1 commitments to focus entirely on his IndyCar career, explaining that his priorities have changed and that he no longer has the same desire to pursue a full-time seat in F1.
The Mexican driver, who previously combined his IndyCar programme with Formula 1 testing and reserve duties, said he remains thankful for the opportunities he received and the experience of driving modern Grand Prix cars.
O’Ward explained that he learned a great deal during his time in Formula 1 and described driving the latest cars as an incredible experience. However, he believes he is now at a different stage of his career and feels happiest competing in IndyCar.
He also made it clear that IndyCar is where he wants to be, saying he enjoys the championship and sees it as the right place for his future.
O’Ward also shared his opinion on Formula 1’s next generation of power units, which will feature a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power from 2026. The Arrow McLaren driver admitted that the new technical regulations do not excite him and said he is not particularly interested in driving the upcoming generation of Formula 1 cars.
His comments suggest that, for now, O’Ward is fully committed to building his career in IndyCar rather than pursuing another opportunity in Formula 1.
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