​Pato O’Ward is refocusing his racing priorities as he chases his first Indy 500 triumph and the IndyCar championship, a shift that includes stepping away from his side role with McLaren Racing. In a recent appearance on Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast, O’Ward revealed that he “politely asked to be fired” from McLaren F1’s reserve driver duties. His decision marks a move away from a relationship that had him serving as a test driver for McLaren from 2022 through 2024 and then serving as a reserve driver for the past two seasons. The change comes with a clear preference to concentrate on Arrow McLaren, the IndyCar outfit with which he has built his on-track success.
O’Ward has not needed to fill in during an F1 race since taking on the reserve role, and there is already a plan in place should a scheduling conflict arise in the future. If a Formula 1 race coincides with an IndyCar event, 2025 Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli would step in to cover the absence of either McLaren F1 driver—Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri. For O’Ward, the priority is unmistakable: his focus is the IndyCar series, and his aim is to dedicate his energy fully to Arrow McLaren.
“I haven’t had an offseason in the last five years,” O’Ward told Daly. “I want to enjoy my life outside of racing because it does consume me and it has consumed me the last five years.” The IndyCar star’s comments come at a time when his ambitions in Formula 1 appear to be receding. Earlier this year, O’Ward expressed discomfort with F1’s car regulations, which feature shorter, lighter cars and an increased emphasis on electrification. With no substantial pursuit of an F1 seat on the horizon, he is now determined to maximize the freedom that comes with his IndyCar commitments.
“I really think I’m just in a different point of my life now, and I really don’t care anymore,” he said. “There’s really nothing in me that is aching to keep on as a reserve in Formula 1, because I’m in a great place in IndyCar. I love the series. That’s where I want to be.” He added, in a direct admission of his stance toward F1, that he has “politely asked to be fired from all my services in Formula 1.” This marks a clear departure from any lingering F1 aspirations and signals a renewed commitment to IndyCar and Arrow McLaren.
At the moment, O’Ward sits fifth in the IndyCar championship, following a strong performance that included a second-place finish in the previous season. Looking ahead, he is slated to begin 2027 in the final year of his Arrow McLaren contract. That year will bring changes on the team’s roster, with Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist set to join as new teammates, shaping the dynamic of the lineup in what will be a pivotal period for O’Ward’s career.
Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter, with ongoing coverage of O’Ward’s career and the broader IndyCar scene. He can be followed on X (Twitter) at @z10nbr0wn. For regular updates, readers can sign up for IndyStar’s Motor Sports newsletter, and catch behind-the-scenes analysis on IndyStar TV’s YouTube channel, which offers in-depth looks at IndyCar events and expert commentary. This report originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star, underlining O’Ward’s revised priorities and the waning pursuit of Formula 1 opportunities in favor of full-throttle IndyCar competition.