O'Ward calls IndyCar his sole focus in reset from Formula 1 duties

Pato O’Ward asked to be released from McLaren’s Formula One reserve role, saying he wants to put his full attention on his IndyCar title chase with Arrow McLaren. O’Ward said the IndyCar program now needs to be his sole focus, that his Formula 1 ambitions have faded from earlier in his career and that he wants more personal time and a better work-life balance after five straight years without an offseason. He said the constant schedule had become harder to manage and described the move as a professional and personal reset.

O’Ward said the Formula 1 testing and reserve commitment had become too disruptive to his training, offseason preparation and personal life. He had spent years hoping for a Formula 1 opportunity with McLaren and had taken part in practice sessions and post-season testing, but he now said he is focused on winning in IndyCar rather than chasing a seat in F1. He made the comments on Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast and said he is at a different stage of his career, adding that he loves IndyCar and wants to remain in the American-based series.

McLaren confirmed that O’Ward will remain with the team through the 2027 IndyCar season. His departure from Formula 1 duties leaves 2024 FIA Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli as McLaren’s only Formula 1 reserve driver. O’Ward’s most recent Formula 1 appearance came in an FP1 session at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and he is expected to continue his IndyCar season at Nashville on July 20.