‘Until the day I die’… 24-year-old test driver desperate to make Formula 1 dream a reality

McLaren test driver Patricio O’Ward has admitted that it’s his dream to drive in Formula 1 one day.

O’Ward was speaking to Planet F1 ahead of his latest opportunity to join up with the team.

Pato O’Ward currently drives in IndyCar with the Arrow McLaren team.

He finished fourth in the standings after 17 races with one fastest lap and seven podiums to his name.

The 24-year-old Mexican driver has been affiliated with McLaren since 2020 when he left the Red Bull Junior Team.

O’Ward already has experience in Formula 1 after a promise he made with McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

The American announced that if O’Ward could win a race in IndyCar in 2021 he would be handed a test drive of the MCL35M.

He held up his end of the bargain and was guided through the experience in the car by Mika Hakkinen.

He’s now getting ready to get behind the wheel of the current car in Abu Dhabi, although breaking into the team is

going to be easier said than done.

McLaren test driver O’Ward outlines Formula 1 dream

Speaking about entering the sport, O’Ward said: “I grew up with Formula 1 as my dream, it will still remain my

dream until the day that I die,” he said. “Because that just doesn’t go away.

“If something that is so powerful in you, that ultimately is what led me to IndyCar, you can’t just turn that off.

“And for me, all I can do is make sure that when an opportunity does come about my name is the only one that is

mentioned and that’s really as much as I can do. I’m going to keep getting better and in every way that I can.

“Obviously I would love to be in Formula 1 because I know I’d be able to do what I’m doing in IndyCar. I know I’m

more than capable to do it and Formula 1 [even though] it’s another series in another race car, I’ve always been

confident in my abilities.

“I’ve no doubt that I would just do me, get used to it and I know I’d be able to deliver and to perform. It really is just

about having that opportunity to get laps under your belt. You can’t expect to just jump into a Formula 1 car and look

like a hero. No, that doesn’t exist, you need laps to get the reins of it and understand it.”

O’Ward may have to wait for his opportunity in Formula 1 with McLaren for quite some time.

Oscar Piastri has been sensational in his debut season and Lando Norris is one of the quickest drivers on the grid.

Finding a spot for O’Ward in one of their two cars is going to be very difficult unless another team poaches one of their drivers.

Otherwise, the Mexican may have to move on from the team to achieve his dream.