Pato O'Ward
Patricio "Pato" O'Ward (born May 6, 1999) is a Mexican professional racing driver who competes full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series for Arrow McLaren, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet.[1][2][3] Born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, O'Ward moved with his family to San Antonio, Texas, at age 11 and began karting at age six, quickly showing promise in junior formulas.[3][1][4] His early career highlights include winning the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the Prototype Challenge class with Performance Tech Motorsports, along with class victories at the 2017 12 Hours of Sebring and two Rolex 24 at Daytona class wins in 2017 and 2022.[2] O'Ward then advanced to open-wheel racing, capturing the 2018 Indy Lights championship for Andretti Autosport with nine wins out of 17 races, earning him the series' top rookie honors and a spot in IndyCar.[2][5] He debuted in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2020 with Arrow McLaren SP and claimed his first victory in the 2021 XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win an IndyCar race on an oval.[6][7] By the end of the 2025 season, O'Ward had amassed nine career IndyCar victories, including his first and second wins of the year at Iowa Speedway on July 12 and the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on July 20, while finishing runner-up in the drivers' championship for the second time since 2022.[8][9][10][11] At the Indianapolis 500, O'Ward has achieved four second-place finishes across the road course and oval events, establishing himself as one of the series' top contenders despite not yet securing a win there.[12] Beyond IndyCar, O'Ward has tested McLaren Formula 1 cars multiple times, including a 2021 outing at Circuit of the Americas as a reward for his Texas victory, fueling speculation about potential international opportunities.[13]Early life and karting
Early life
Patricio "Pato" O'Ward Junco was born on May 6, 1999, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.[2] He is the son of Patricio O'Ward Sr. and Elba Junco, and has an older sister named Elba.[14][15] Growing up in Monterrey, O'Ward developed an early fascination with motorsports, influenced by his family's support and his own experiences with dirt bikes and motorcycles during childhood.[16] At the age of six, O'Ward's interest in racing deepened when his grandfather gifted him a go-kart, marking the beginning of his hands-on involvement in the sport as a hobby.[16] This early exposure naturally progressed into more structured karting pursuits. O'Ward spent his first 11 years in Monterrey, where he was immersed in a culture that valued adrenaline-fueled activities.[17] In 2010, O'Ward's family relocated to San Antonio, Texas, seeking enhanced opportunities in American motorsport development.[17][2] There, he attended high school, adapting to life in the United States while maintaining strong ties to his Mexican heritage.[14]Karting achievements
Pato O'Ward began his karting career at the age of 7 in Mexico, competing initially in local events before expanding to national and international competitions.[18] His early successes included a victory in the TaG Cadet class at the 2010 SKUSA SuperNationals XIV, where he became the inaugural winner of the Mini 60 category driving for J3 Competition at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.[19][20] In 2011, O'Ward finished second in the same class at the SKUSA SuperNationals XV.[20] The following year, at age 13, he claimed first place in the S5 Junior category at the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI, demonstrating strong progression in shifter kart classes.[20] In 2011, at age 12, O'Ward won the Rotax Max Challenge Mexico championship, and in 2012, at age 13, he won the World Karting Association KF Junior title, highlighting his dominance in Rotax-equipped karts on tracks across North America.[21][22] Overall, his karting tenure yielded multiple national titles in Mexico and the U.S., including two SKUSA junior championships, often racing in classes such as TaG Cadet and Junior Max.[15] These achievements, marked by consistent podium finishes and event wins at venues like the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, garnered sponsorships from motorsport organizations and drew attention from junior open-wheel teams, paving the way for his debut in Pro Mazda in 2015 with Team Pelfrey.[23]Junior open-wheel career
Formula 4 championships
Pato O'Ward began his single-seater racing career in the 2014 French F4 Championship, competing for the Auto Sport Academy team in a partial season spanning five rounds. Driving the spec Mygale M14-F4 chassis equipped with a Ford EcoBoost 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-4 engine producing approximately 160 horsepower and a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox, O'Ward secured one victory and two podium finishes, culminating in a seventh-place finish in the drivers' standings with 143 points.[24] This performance demonstrated his adaptability to open-wheel formula cars, marking a significant step up from karting while highlighting the series' role as an entry-level FIA-sanctioned category designed to provide affordable, standardized racing for young talents.[25] These Formula 4 achievements, particularly his promising results in the French series, directly facilitated O'Ward's progression to the Pro Mazda Championship in 2015, where he secured a seat with Team Pelfrey after impressing scouts with his raw talent and maturity beyond his years.[26] O'Ward also entered the 2015–16 NACAM Formula 4 Championship with Scuderia Martiga EG, contesting a full season of 14 races across regional circuits in Mexico and the United States.[24] The NACAM series utilized similar technical specifications to the French F4, featuring the Mygale chassis and Ford engine setup to ensure close competition and driver development focus, with events often held as support races for higher-profile series. O'Ward delivered a strong campaign, achieving six wins—including notable victories at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City—along with multiple podiums, which propelled him to third in the final standings with 247 points. His consistent speed and racecraft in this regional championship, which emphasized endurance and tactical overtaking on diverse track layouts, underscored rivalries with emerging drivers and further honed his skills in high-stakes environments, providing valuable experience that bridged his European debut to North American open-wheel ladders. Following a successful karting foundation that met eligibility requirements for junior formulas, O'Ward's F4 tenure represented a pivotal transition to professional single-seater racing.[27]Pro Mazda and Indy Lights
O'Ward made his debut in the Pro Mazda Championship in 2015 with Team Pelfrey, competing full-time as a rookie and finishing sixth in the drivers' standings with consistent top-10 results that showcased his potential in open-wheel racing. He returned full-time in 2016, dominating the early part of the season by securing seven victories, five pole positions, and nine podiums en route to second place in the championship behind Aaron Telitz, earning widespread recognition as a rising talent in the Road to Indy program.[28] Transitioning to the next tier, O'Ward entered the Indy Lights series on a limited schedule in 2017 with Team Pelfrey due to sponsorship constraints, contesting four early-season races and achieving a podium finish—third place in the second race at St. Petersburg—while accumulating 58 points to end 15th in the standings despite the abbreviated campaign. This partial exposure to the faster, more demanding Indy Lights cars, which featured greater horsepower and included oval configurations, presented initial challenges in adapting to the increased speeds and handling dynamics compared to Pro Mazda machinery.[29][5][30] In 2018, O'Ward joined Andretti Autosport for a full Indy Lights campaign, where he rapidly adjusted to the team's competitive environment and engaged in an intense intra-team rivalry with teammate Colton Herta, ultimately prevailing to claim the championship with nine wins, nine pole positions, and 466 points. Key highlights included victories at St. Petersburg, Road America (Race 2), Iowa Speedway, and Portland International Raceway, where he clinched the title in the penultimate round with a daring pass for the lead. A notable near-miss came during the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where O'Ward led much of the race but was edged out by 0.0281 seconds by Herta in a thrilling photo finish.[31][5][32][33] The championship victory earned O'Ward the $1 million Mazda Scholarship, guaranteeing entry into three NTT IndyCar Series races in 2019 and marking his direct progression to the premier open-wheel series in North America. Throughout the season, he navigated challenges such as fine-tuning car setups for diverse track types, including ovals like Gateway where he secured a podium, and managing the pressures of leading the points battle against a highly capable teammate.[34][31][35]IndyCar career
Debut seasons (2018–2019)
Pato O'Ward made his NTT IndyCar Series debut in 2018 with Harding Racing at the Grand Prix of Sonoma, qualifying fifth and finishing ninth in the No. 8 Chevrolet after completing all 85 laps.[36] This single-race appearance marked his introduction to the series' high-speed road course demands, showcasing his potential as the reigning Indy Lights champion while adapting to the more powerful Dallara DW12 chassis.[5] Entering 2019, O'Ward was initially signed to a full-season deal with Harding Steinbrenner Racing in the No. 8 entry, leveraging the $1 million Mazda Road to Indy scholarship from his 2018 Indy Lights title to fund three races including the Indianapolis 500.[37] However, sponsorship shortfalls led to his release in February, prompting a swift transition to Carlin, where he joined on a part-time basis for an announced 13 races in the No. 31 Chevrolet.[36][38] O'Ward ultimately contested seven events with the team, facing rookie challenges such as mechanical reliability and funding constraints that limited his schedule after June.[39][40] In his Carlin tenure, O'Ward demonstrated strong adaptation to oval racing, securing his first podium with a third-place finish in the June race at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 12th and running consistently in the top five.[41] He also posted competitive results on other ovals, including an eighth-place finish at Iowa Speedway, highlighting his speed on short tracks despite the team's underfunded setup.[42] Road course performances were mixed, with finishes like 19th at the Indianapolis road course and 24th at Circuit of the Americas, often hampered by setup issues in Carlin's inaugural IndyCar season.[43][44] A key setback came during Indianapolis 500 preparations, where O'Ward crashed heavily in practice on May 16, sustaining a 90G impact but emerging uninjured after medical checks.[45] This incident preceded his qualifying attempt, where he posted one of the slowest speeds and was bumped from the field alongside teammate Max Chilton, missing the 103rd running of the event.[46] Despite these hurdles, O'Ward tallied 115 points across his seven starts, placing 26th in the final standings and fifth among rookies behind winner Felix Rosenqvist.[47][48] His efforts underscored a promising rookie campaign marked by oval prowess and resilience amid team instability, setting the stage for future opportunities.[39]2020 season
O'Ward entered the 2020 NTT IndyCar Series season as a full-time driver for the newly formed Arrow McLaren SP team, a joint venture between Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and McLaren Racing, marking his first complete campaign in the series after partial appearances in 2018 and 2019. The season consisted of 14 races, significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a compressed schedule starting in June and the cancellation of several events, including the traditional season opener at St. Petersburg. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet, O'Ward competed alongside rookies Oliver Askew and veteran Felix Rosenqvist, as the team worked to integrate operations and build cohesion amid the challenges of establishing a competitive setup in a highly technical series.[49] O'Ward showed promise early on, securing his first career pole position at Road America in July for Race 2 of the doubleheader weekend, where he led much of the contest before finishing second to teammate Rosenqvist in a thrilling late-race battle. He achieved three runner-up finishes overall—at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis road course, Road America Race 2, and the second race at World Wide Technology Raceway—along with a third-place result at the Indianapolis 500, where he started 22nd and advanced to sixth before a late caution altered the outcome, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. His best oval result came at the Iowa Speedway doubleheader, with a fourth-place finish in Race 2 after starting eighth, though he struggled with consistency on road and street courses, often qualifying well but facing tire management and strategy hurdles that limited top finishes.[50][51][52] Despite the team's transitional year, which included adapting to new engineering processes and Chevrolet power units, O'Ward recorded 10 top-10 finishes and scored 416 points to claim fourth in the final drivers' championship standings, a strong showing that highlighted his adaptability and speed while contributing to Arrow McLaren SP's development. The season fostered growing team chemistry, particularly with Rosenqvist, as the duo combined for multiple podiums and helped the squad secure third in the teams' standings, laying groundwork for future success.[53][54]2021 season
O'Ward entered the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series season as a full-time driver for Arrow McLaren SP, building on his adaptation from the prior year to compete in all 16 races. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet, he demonstrated marked improvement on road and street courses, securing multiple podiums including second place at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and third at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. His season highlighted a blend of oval prowess and enhanced versatility, culminating in a runner-up finish at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway as one of his strongest performances on short ovals.[6] O'Ward's breakout came with his maiden IndyCar victory in the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2, where he led the final 23 laps to hold off Josef Newgarden, marking the first win for a Mexican driver since Adrián Fernández in 2004 and signifying a major milestone for representation in the series. He followed with his second win in Race 2 of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on June 13, passing Newgarden in the closing laps on the street circuit to take the checkered flag and assume the championship lead for the first time. These triumphs fueled a strong title challenge, with O'Ward briefly leading the points standings again after his second-place finish at Gateway in August, engaging in intense on-track battles with championship rivals Álex Palou and Colton Herta, who each secured three wins that year.[6][55][7] At the 105th Indianapolis 500 on May 30, O'Ward qualified third and led 44 laps before finishing fourth, a career-best result at the event that underscored his growing contention on ovals. Despite late-season setbacks, including a 14th-place finish at Portland that dropped him from the lead, O'Ward ended the year third in the final standings with 487 points, nine podiums, and three pole positions, establishing himself as a legitimate title threat.[56][57][58]2022 season
The 2022 NTT IndyCar Series season marked a step forward for Pato O'Ward, building on the momentum from his breakthrough victory at the 2021 Detroit Grand Prix. Driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren SP alongside teammate Felix Rosenqvist, O'Ward competed in all 17 races, demonstrating improved consistency and speed on road courses and ovals alike. He captured two wins, one pole position, and achieved six podium finishes, culminating in a seventh-place championship standing with 480 points—outperforming Rosenqvist, who finished eighth with 393 points and no victories.[59][2][60] O'Ward's campaign began with solid results, including a third-place finish in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, but he truly asserted himself in May by winning the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park—his first victory of the year after starting fourth and leading the final 18 laps. The highlight came at the Indianapolis 500, where he qualified seventh and led 39 laps, positioning himself to challenge for the win in the closing stages; however, he settled for second place after being unable to overtake Marcus Ericsson on the final lap following a late-race strategy shuffle prompted by cautions. This runner-up result earned him $1 million in bonus money and solidified his status as a top contender, though mechanical issues, such as engine failures at Road America and Mid-Ohio, hampered his momentum mid-season.[61][62][63] O'Ward rebounded strongly in the late season, particularly during the Iowa Speedway doubleheader in July, where he finished second in the opener before capitalizing on Josef Newgarden's late crash to secure the victory in the Hy-Vee Salute to Farmers 300—his second win of the year and Arrow McLaren's first oval triumph since 2019. He followed with a fourth-place finish at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto and another fourth at the season finale Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca, rounding out a surge that included consistent top-10 results despite earlier setbacks. While not enough to challenge the title fight dominated by Will Power, O'Ward's performance highlighted his growth and set the stage for future contention, with Rosenqvist often playing a supportive role in team strategy discussions during races.[64][65]2023 season
O'Ward competed in all 17 races of the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series season driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren SP.[66] The season began promisingly with consecutive runner-up finishes at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the XPEL 375 at Texas Motor Speedway, where he led a race-high 118 laps before being overtaken on the final lap.[67] However, O'Ward experienced a mid-season form dip, with finishes outside the top 10 at Long Beach (17th) and Detroit (8th), attributed in part to divided attention from his sports car racing debut earlier in the year at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.[68] At the Indianapolis 500, he qualified fifth but suffered a lap 192 crash after contact with teammate Felix Rosenqvist while running in the top five, resulting in a 24th-place finish.[69][70] O'Ward rebounded with podiums at Road America (third) and Toronto (second), marking his sixth podium of the season—a career high—but secured no victories overall. His efforts on ovals, including a strong bid for McLaren's first oval win at Texas, underscored the team's growing competitiveness despite the challenges. O'Ward concluded the year fourth in the drivers' standings with 484 points, behind champion Scott Dixon, Alex Palou, and Josef Newgarden.[67]2024 season
O'Ward entered the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season with Arrow McLaren, competing in all 17 races aboard the No. 5 Chevrolet. He achieved three victories—at St. Petersburg, Mid-Ohio, and the first race of the Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at the Milwaukee Mile—along with multiple podium finishes, including second places at Thermal Club and the Indianapolis 500, and a third at the GMR Grand Prix. These results contributed to a fifth-place finish in the drivers' championship with 460 points, marking a consistent performance amid team-wide progress.[71][72][73] Despite securing three pole positions, including at Mid-Ohio where he led the hybrid engine debut race to victory, O'Ward faced challenges with race execution in several events, such as a 15th-place finish at Portland due to strategy and traffic issues, and a 26th at Iowa Speedway's second race following a late-race incident. His runner-up finish at the Indianapolis 500 was particularly notable, as he led late before being overtaken by Josef Newgarden on the final lap, coming agonizingly close to becoming the first Mexican winner of the event. These moments underscored both his speed and areas for improvement in sustaining leads under pressure.[74][75][76] Arrow McLaren demonstrated significant improvement as a team, with teammate Álex Palou clinching the drivers' championship in his third title-winning season, supported by the squad's five overall victories and strong showings across ovals, road courses, and street circuits. O'Ward's contributions helped elevate the team's constructors' standing, reflecting enhanced reliability and development following a demanding 2023 schedule that had spread resources across multiple series. Off the track, O'Ward celebrated his Mexican heritage prominently, participating in Formula 1 free practice for McLaren at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he impressed with a top-10 time and engaged thousands of fans in cultural events, boosting IndyCar's visibility in his home country.[77][78]2025 season
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season marked Pato O'Ward's career-best performance, as he competed in all 17 races for Arrow McLaren, securing two victories, three pole positions, and finishing second in the drivers' championship standings with 515 points, trailing champion Álex Palou by 196 points.[79] O'Ward achieved 10 top-five finishes and 12 top-10 results, demonstrating consistent speed across ovals, road courses, and street circuits.[79] O'Ward started the season with an 11th-place finish in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, hampered by strategy adjustments after early tire wear issues in his No. 5 Chevrolet.[80] He rebounded with a pole position at the inaugural Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix, though he finished second in the race, and followed with a sixth at Barber Motorsports Park.[81] At the 109th Indianapolis 500, O'Ward qualified third and led 25 laps before finishing third, earning a $200,000 bonus for his podium amid a race featuring multiple cautions and strategic pit battles.[82][83] Mid-season challenges included mechanical reliability setbacks, such as an injection box failure at Portland International Raceway that sidelined him late and effectively ended his slim title hopes, dropping him further behind Palou.[84] O'Ward voiced frustrations with the series' new hybrid energy recovery system, citing added weight and complexity that impacted handling without improving racing quality. Despite these hurdles, he mounted a late surge with back-to-back wins in July: first outdueling Josef Newgarden in a dramatic overtime finish at Iowa Speedway's Race 1, his eighth career victory and first of the season, followed by a strategic triumph under caution at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, closing Palou's lead by 30 points.[9][10][85] The intense rivalry with Palou defined the championship battle, as O'Ward's aggressive overtakes and consistent podiums— including seconds at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Mid-Ohio—kept pressure on the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, though Palou's eight wins proved insurmountable.[86] O'Ward added a second pole at Nashville Superspeedway, his first on an oval, but crashed due to a tire failure while leading late in the finale, settling for a 24th-place finish.[8][87][88]Formula One involvement
Red Bull Junior Team period
In May 2019, Patricio O'Ward joined the Red Bull Junior Team during his rookie season in the NTT IndyCar Series with Carlin, following his 2018 Indy Lights championship win that highlighted his potential for Formula One development.[89][90] The program provided financial and logistical support for O'Ward's ongoing IndyCar efforts while positioning him for advancement through Red Bull's European feeder categories, including planned participation in Super Formula and Formula 2 to accumulate super license points.[91] Under this backing, he made a single appearance in Formula 2 at the Austrian Grand Prix in June 2019 with MP Motorsport, qualifying 17th and finishing 19th in the feature race and 14th in the sprint race.[92] He also competed in three Super Formula events with Team Mugen later that year, securing a best result of sixth place at the Okayama round. O'Ward's time with the Red Bull Junior Team ended abruptly in October 2019 when the program released him, citing insufficient super license points due to FIA adjustments that reduced allocations for non-championship wins in series like Super Formula and Formula 2.[93] This decision allowed O'Ward to prioritize his IndyCar career in the Americas, where Red Bull's focus remained more Europe-oriented.[94]McLaren driver program and testing
In 2020, Pato O'Ward joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme as part of his full-time move to the Arrow McLaren SP team in IndyCar, marking the beginning of his integrated role across McLaren's racing operations.[3] The programme, launched to nurture talent across Formula 1, IndyCar, and other series, provides O'Ward with structured support including technical feedback, performance analysis, and access to McLaren's resources to enhance his skills in high-level open-wheel racing.[95] This affiliation allows him to maintain a dual focus, balancing competitive IndyCar commitments with Formula 1 development opportunities. O'Ward's first on-track experience with a McLaren Formula 1 car came during the 2021 Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test, where he drove the 2021-spec MCL35M and completed 92 laps, posting the fourth-fastest time of 1:24.607 to gather valuable data on the car's aerodynamics and handling. He followed this with his competitive debut in the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Free Practice 1 session, running 22 laps in the MCL36 and finishing 18th with a best lap of 1:28.350 despite technical issues, contributing setup insights for the team's weekend programme.[96] In 2023, he returned for FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, again in Lando Norris's car, and participated in the post-season test, completing 103 laps and placing second-fastest overall at 1:24.662, which helped evaluate tyre compounds and car balance.[97] These sessions built on his growing familiarity with F1 machinery, emphasizing data collection over outright pace. O'Ward's testing continued into 2024 with FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, his home event, where he drove the MCL38 and focused on adapting to the high-altitude track conditions.[98] He also took part in the Abu Dhabi post-season test that year, finishing seventh overall among 23 drivers.[99] In preparation for the 2025 season, O'Ward conducted a private test at Imola using the 2023-spec MCL60, logging laps to refine his approach before his second consecutive FP1 outing at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he handled Norris's MCL39 amid challenging weather and personal health issues like food poisoning.[100][101] As McLaren's Formula 1 reserve driver since 2024—a role extended into 2025—O'Ward undertakes duties such as standing by for race weekends, analyzing telemetry, and contributing to debriefs, while dedicating significant time to simulator sessions at the team's Woking headquarters to simulate race scenarios and test setups.[102] This involvement fosters skill crossover between series; for instance, F1's emphasis on precise aerodynamic management and tyre strategy has informed O'Ward's IndyCar approach, improving his adaptability to varying track conditions and car balances, as he has noted in reflections on the physical and technical demands of both disciplines.[103] The programme's holistic support thus enhances his overall racing acumen without detracting from his primary IndyCar focus.Other racing series
Sports car racing
O'Ward began his sports car racing career in 2017 as a 17-year-old in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's Prototype Challenge (PC) class with Performance Tech Motorsports, partnering with James French and Kyle Masson. The team achieved the class championship with seven victories out of eight races, including class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, marking O'Ward's early success in endurance prototypes.[2] He returned for the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the PC class with the same team, now including Joel Miller as a co-driver, securing another class victory.[104] After shifting focus to open-wheel series, O'Ward returned to IMSA for a one-off appearance in 2022 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, driving the No. 60 DragonSpeed USA Oreca LMP2 alongside Colton Herta, Devlin DeFrancesco, and Eric Lux. The entry dominated the LMP2 class, completing 761 laps to secure the win despite challenging conditions, providing O'Ward with his first LMP2 victory and exposure to multi-driver prototype racing dynamics.[105][106] In 2024, O'Ward made another guest start at the Rolex 24 at Daytona with United Autosports in the No. 2 Oreca LMP2, teamed with Ben Keating, Nico Pino, and Ben Hanley. The car led portions of the early stages but faced mechanical setbacks and traffic issues in the endurance format, finishing sixth in LMP2 after 785 laps overall. This outing highlighted O'Ward's adaptability to prototype handling and team coordination under fatigue, while fitting around his demanding IndyCar calendar.[107][108] O'Ward's sports car efforts have remained selective, emphasizing learning opportunities in LMP2 prototypes without conflicting with his full-time IndyCar commitments, and no additional IMSA entries have been announced as of November 2025.Formula 2 and Super Formula
In 2019, as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, O'Ward made his FIA Formula 2 Championship debut with MP Motorsport, replacing Mahaveer Raghunathan for the round at the Red Bull Ring.[109] He qualified 17th for the feature race and finished 18th after a challenging debut where he described feeling "slower than ever" due to the car's demanding aerodynamics and his limited preparation time.[110] In the sprint race, starting from the back, he advanced to 14th, marking his best result of the weekend and earning no points overall, ending the two-race stint 26th in the standings.[111] This brief appearance aimed to provide exposure on the F1 support bill and accumulate superlicence points toward a potential Formula 1 seat, though the unfamiliar European single-seater setup proved a steep learning curve amid extensive travel from his primary IndyCar commitments.[92] Later that year, O'Ward transitioned to Japan's Super Formula Championship with Team Mugen, taking over from Dan Ticktum as a Red Bull-backed driver for three rounds starting at Fuji Speedway. The series' prestige as a high-downforce, 2-liter turbocharged category offered another pathway to F1 relevance, with its technical demands and competitive field appealing to junior programs seeking versatile talent. At Fuji, he qualified 11th and finished sixth in the rain-affected race, scoring three points—his only points of the season and best result in the category.[112] He followed with 14th at Motegi and a non-points finish at Sportland Sugo, concluding 18th in the championship with three points from three starts.[24] Adapting to the SF19 car's extreme aerodynamics and the logistical challenges of international travel, including jet lag and cultural adjustments in Japan, tested O'Ward, but the stint honed his skills in a series renowned for producing F1-caliber drivers.[113]Racing records
Career summary
Pato O'Ward began his racing career in karting at age six, securing multiple national championships in Mexico before transitioning to single-seater racing in 2014 with the French F4 Championship.[15] His progression accelerated through the Mazda Road to Indy ladder, where he finished sixth in the 2015 Pro Mazda Championship and finished runner-up in the 2016 Pro Mazda Championship with six wins.[31] In 2017, O'Ward achieved third place in Indy Lights while also winning the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the Prototype Challenge class with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, including class victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.[2] He dominated Indy Lights in 2018 with Andretti Autosport, winning the championship with nine victories in 17 races.[31] O'Ward's international exposure included brief stints in Formula 2 and Super Formula in 2019, where he competed in two F2 races at the Red Bull Ring with MP Motorsport and three Super Formula events as a replacement driver. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team that year but was released after a short period, leading to Formula 1 testing opportunities and later inclusion in McLaren's driver development program.[93] Transitioning to the NTT IndyCar Series in 2020 with Arrow McLaren SP, O'Ward earned Rookie of the Year honors and the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in his debut season.[114] By 2025, he had established himself as a series leader, finishing as runner-up in the championship with two wins and three poles that year.[115]| Series | Championships | Wins | Poles | Notable Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karting (Mexico) | Multiple national titles (2010–2013) | N/A | N/A | N/A[15] |
| Pro Mazda | None | 6 | 5 | Scholarship to Indy Lights[31] |
| Indy Lights (INDY NXT) | 1 (2018) | 9 | 6 | Driver of the Year[31] |
| IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar (PC class) | 1 (2017) | 3 (class) | N/A | Prototype Challenge Champion[2] |
| Formula 2 | None | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Super Formula | None | 0 | 0 | N/A[116] |
| NTT IndyCar Series | None | 9 | 7 | Rookie of the Year (2020), Indy 500 Rookie of the Year (2020)[40][114] |
French F4 Championship (2014)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 7th |
NACAM Formula 4 Championship (2016)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 247 | 3rd |
Pro Mazda Championship (2016)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 393 | 2nd |
Indy Lights (2018)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 491 | 1st |
Formula 2 Championship (2019)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
Super Formula Championship (2019)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
Super Formula Championship (2020)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12th |
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
| Year | Class | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | PC | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 289 | 1st |
| 2023 | LMP2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
IndyCar Series (2018–2025)
| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 31st |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 289 | 13th |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 283 | 10th |
| 2021 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 487 | 3rd |
| 2022 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 480 | 7th |
| 2023 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 484 | 4th |
| 2024 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 460 | 5th |
| 2025 | 17 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 515 | 2nd |
Indianapolis 500 Results
| Year | Starting Position | Finishing Position | Laps Led | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 27 | 28 | 0 | Running |
| 2020 | 20 | 20 | 0 | Running |
| 2021 | 17 | 29 | 0 | Crash |
| 2022 | 22 | 2 | 39 | Running |
| 2023 | 16 | 8 | 0 | Running |
| 2024 | 6 | 2 | 120 | Running |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 12 | Running |
Formula One Involvement
| Year | Team | Event | Type | Laps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Red Bull Racing | Abu Dhabi Test | Test | 47 | Junior Team driver |
| 2021 | McLaren | Bahrain Test | Test | 118 | Driver program participant |
| 2023 | McLaren | Silverstone Test | Test | 65 | FP1 session at Mexican GP (no official laps counted as race) |
Karting Summary
| Year | Series | Events | Wins | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2014 | Mexican Karting Championship (various classes) | ~50 | 12 | 2 (Micro Max 2013, OK Junior 2014) |