McLaren Racer 'Politely Asked to Be Fired' Ahead of 2027 Campaign
Pato O'Ward said he wants to focus on Arrow McLaren and gain more personal time after five years without an offseason.
- On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward announced on the "Speed Street" podcast that he has "politely asked to be fired" from his role as a reserve driver for McLaren Formula One.
- After five years without an offseason, O'Ward explained he needs better work-life balance, telling listeners, "I want to enjoy my life outside of racing because it does consume me."
- Earlier this year, O'Ward expressed frustration with modern F1 regulations and electrical deployment, saying, "You don't want to be flipping a switch to say, 'Oh, I'm going to press it to pass him artificially.' It's not Mario Kart; we're racing here."
- Seeking to prioritize his Arrow McLaren IndyCar career, O'Ward will partner six-time champion Scott Dixon and returning driver Felix Rosenqvist during the 2027 season.
- Reserve responsibilities are currently shared with reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who would substitute if scheduling conflicts between F1 and IndyCar arise.
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He asked the racing stable to release him from his duties. "I kindly asked the people in charge to fire me from all my obligations in Formula 1, the 27-year-old in the podcast "Speed Street" revealed. But O'Ward McLaren doesn't leave completely. The Mexican remains with the team as a driver of Arrow McLaren in the IndyCar series. "I'm very grateful for the experiences and everything else I could experience in the world of F1. Driving these cars,…
‘Fire Me’: Pato O’Ward Walks Away From F1
Imagine walking into Zak Brown’s office and asking to be fired from the F1 backup seat — that’s exactly what Pato O’Ward just did, with a grin and a shrug. He says the shiny cars aren’t lighting his fire, his schedule isn’t his, and IndyCar feels like the place where the racing actually tastes good; sometimes the plate is gold and the food is bland. He spilled it on a podcast, then started talking about training more, living better, and choosing…
Bizarre move as McLaren driver asks to quit F1: “I’m no longer interested” says O'Ward
Patricio AKA ‘Pato’ O’Ward has revealed he asked McLaren to release him from his Formula 1 reserve driver commitments, admitting he is “no longer interested” in pursuing a future on the F1 grid after spending five years with the team’s development programme. The Mexican driver, who continues to race for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar, said ...
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