When the System 1 grid heads to Mexico in October for the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, McLaren could have a distinct driver within the MCL38 for FP1.
Present IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward.
Along with his IndyCar duties with Arrow McLaren, O’Ward serves as a reserve driver for McLaren’s F1 group. This is not going to be O’Ward’s first time in an F1 automotive, as he participated within the 2021 check in Abu Dhabi, and likewise drove in FP1 on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in each 2022 and 2023.
Nevertheless, driving in FP1 on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix provides him an opportunity to drive in entrance of his house crowd, a chance he referred to as a “dream come true” within the announcement on social media:
“I can’t wait, this actually is a dream come true for me – having the ability to soar into an F1 automotive in entrance of my house crowd. I can’t thank Andrea [Stella], Zak [Brown] – the entire group – sufficient for this wonderful alternative,” mentioned the driving force.
“The automotive’s been a rocket this 12 months so [I’ll be] attempting to do my half and assist them as a lot as I can for the remainder of the 12 months. I’ve received Nashville this weekend in IndyCar, in order that’s the precedence now, however can’t wait to get going and I’m truly flying over to Europe on the finish of this week to begin all my System 1 duties. I can’t wait.”
O’Ward at present sits sixth within the 2024 IndyCar Sequence standings, with three wins. He final received the primary Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250 Race on the finish of August. O’Ward completed second within the 2024 Indianapolis 500.
