Pato O'Ward asks McLaren to release him from F1 reserve duties

Pato O'Ward has asked McLaren to end his Formula 1 reserve duties entirely, closing the book on his F1 ambitions to focus fully on IndyCar. The Mexican driver, part of McLaren's F1 program since 2021, says he no longer wants to drive an F1 car and is eager to control his own schedule ahead of the 2027 season.

Why it matters:

O'Ward's exit highlights the fading reality of a full-time IndyCar-to-F1 pathway, even for drivers inside a major team. After years of private tests and FP1 sessions, his decision signals that McLaren's F1 door has closed, sending one of its most touted prospects back to American open-wheel racing for good.

The details:

• O'Ward joined McLaren's IndyCar arm in 2020 and earned an F1 shot at the 2021 Abu Dhabi young driver test, later serving as a reserve and running in FP1 sessions, including on home soil in Mexico.
• He has finished in the top seven in IndyCar every season since, with two runner-up results at the Indianapolis 500.
• On the Speed Street podcast, O'Ward said he "politely asked to be fired from all my services in F1," noting he is no longer excited by the category and wants to prioritize his IndyCar career.
• Confirmed for McLaren's 2027 IndyCar lineup alongside Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist, he stressed that split duties had long prevented him from controlling his schedule, and he now wants to focus on training and diet.

What's next:

O'Ward's Abu Dhabi FP1 appearance last year now looks set to be his final F1 outing. All attention shifts to chasing an IndyCar title and finally breaking through at Indianapolis, with the 2027 campaign poised to be his clearest opportunity yet.