Pato O’Ward asks McLaren to drop his F1 duties amid IndyCar focus
Pato O’Ward says he has asked McLaren to “politely” dismiss him from all Formula 1 reserve/test duties because he’s no longer motivated to chase an F1 future and wants his schedule back for IndyCar. The move matters because it effectively shuts the door on his McLaren F1 pathway. Keyword: pato oaposward.
Key Takeaways
- O’Ward requested an exit from McLaren’s F1 services, saying he’s “not excited” to drive today’s cars.
- He says IndyCar is his priority and he wants more control of training, diet, and downtime.
- The comments were made publicly on Conor Daly’s “Speed Street” podcast, addressed to McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
- His McLaren F1 appearances may be ending after past tests and practice outings.
What exactly did Pato O’Ward ask McLaren to do?
O’Ward, a McLaren-affiliated IndyCar driver who has also served as part of McLaren’s Formula 1 reserve set-up, said he went directly to CEO Zak Brown with a clear request: remove him from F1 duties.
“I’m not excited to drive one, so I have politely asked to be fired from all my services in Formula 1,” he said, explaining he wants to “focus on my priorities” and regain control over a schedule that has dominated his life for years, according to RacingNews365.
RacingNews365 reports O’Ward had been integrated into McLaren’s reserve driver programme after earlier testing opportunities, including private running and F1 practice outings.
Why is he walking away from F1 right now?
O’Ward framed it less as a dramatic split and more as a life-and-performance decision. On the “Speed Street” podcast, he said he hasn’t had an offseason in five years and wants to enjoy time outside racing, while also preparing better.
GPFans reports he described the toll of being on-call for both IndyCar and F1 commitments, adding that he wants to train more, eat better, and prepare for what’s ahead in IndyCar.
He also made a blunt sporting point: he doesn’t feel pulled toward today’s Formula 1 machinery. Motorsport.com quotes him saying he is happy in IndyCar, calling it “the best place for more racing,” and stressing he no longer feels an internal push to remain an F1 reserve.
Does this end his Formula 1 dream for good?
In his own words, O’Ward signaled the ambition has faded. Motorsport.com reports him saying he’s at a different moment in life and “no longer care[s]” about pursuing a Formula 1 career, because he feels he’s in a great place in IndyCar and loves the series.
RacingNews365 adds that any ambition to continue toward a full-time F1 seat has “evaporated,” and suggests his most recent F1 running could end up being his final appearance in an F1 car.
For readers tracking the story as celebrity-style breaking news in motorsport: this is a rare, headline-grabbing reversal—an established McLaren-linked talent choosing to step away from the sport’s biggest stage to protect performance, lifestyle, and focus.
More stories like this are in our Celebrity Breaking News hub. For the original reporting and direct quotes, see Motorsport.com and RacingNews365.