IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, a reserve driver for McLaren in F1, believes his dream of joining Formula 1 is now a thing of the past, especially since he doesn’t much appreciate the recent evolution of the competition.
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At 26, the Mexican, a leading figure for Arrow McLaren across the Atlantic, no longer looks at the premier discipline with desire, but with a critical eye, going so far as to assert that Formula 1 has lost its essence in favor of an “artificial spectacle.”
Interviewed by FOX Deportes before the Long Beach Grand Prix taking place tonight, O’Ward was very clear about his current lack of interest in an F1 move, despite his connection with McLaren : “Every year, it changes more… honestly, the new Formula 1 cars, no thanks: what the discipline has done is a mistake. The truth is, when you look at them, they are artificial.”
No Mario Kart
For him, the appeal of F1 was never linked to fame or financial aspects, but to the purely technical and sensory dimension of driving. He regrets that this dimension has been altered: “The desire I had to get into Formula 1 wasn’t for celebrity or money: it was because the cars were impressive and driving those cars was something impressive.”
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The core of his criticism targets modern energy management systems and electronic overtaking aids. In a context where drivers must constantly manage energy recovery and deployment, O’Ward believes that the competition has lost authenticity: “You don’t want to press a button to say: ‘I’m going to overtake him artificially.’ This isn’t Mario Kart, we’re racing here. Honestly, I have no desire to be a part of that.”
No more attraction
The Mexican driver thus prefers IndyCar’s more mechanical and direct approach, where the driver’s role remains central. According to him, a race should be decided by braking, in fast corners, and by the driver’s commitment, not by electronic systems or energy constraints that force drivers to lift off the throttle on straights.
Now firmly established as one of IndyCar’s major talents, O’Ward seems to fully embrace this choice: prioritizing a discipline he considers more authentic rather than pursuing an F1 goal that no longer meets his expectations. “Today, it’s the best discipline for a driver who wants to race: here, in IndyCar. Formula 1 is too artificial a spectacle, and honestly, I no longer have any desire to go there, it doesn’t attract me,” he concluded.
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