McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says he wish to see Pato O’Ward driving different races such because the Daytona 500 in addition to his System 1 runs.
O’Ward has been confirmed to be making his subsequent FP1 look for McLaren at his dwelling race in Mexico Metropolis subsequent month, in what would be the first time he’s pushed throughout an F1 weekend on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Brown says the 25-year-old has acquired the attributes to drive in several classes and suggests there might be the same crossover to the one which sees Kyle Larson operating with McLaren on the Indy 500.
“He’s considered one of our reserve drivers, we would like him to get by way of the IndyCar season,” Brown instructed the Dale Jr. Podcast. “He’s examined our System 1 automobile a bunch — he’s an enormous expertise and it will likely be huge information in Mexico, which is nice.
“Clearly there was the entire fiasco every week or two in the past and I’m going to be carrying my ‘Pato who?’ hat this weekend for some enjoyable! However he’s big. After I go to Mexico — System E races there, System 1 — I’ve acquired individuals shouting at me, ‘Convey Pato! Convey Pato!’ So it will likely be nice to place him out in Free Follow 1 — that might be huge information.”
Brown mentioned he’s nonetheless hopeful of O’Ward being concerned with the NASCAR occasion in Mexico, though schedule conflicts seem to preclude it taking place subsequent 12 months.
“If we are able to get him within the Xfinity race, that might be cool. I really like that stuff. So I’d like to see Pato try this,” he mentioned. “Proper now it conflicts — I don’t know what the schedule will seem like on ’26 however possibly that. Speaking by way of what else can we do with Hendrick Motorsports? Perhaps there’s one thing… Pato on the Daytona 500 — how cool would that be?”
O’Ward has already proven an curiosity in operating the Mexico Metropolis NASCAR race, beforehand telling RACER’s Marshall Pruett he’s eyeing a experience in 2026.
“I’d like to,” O’Ward mentioned. “I’m actually bummed. I want we may have carried out it as quickly as the primary time, which is subsequent 12 months, but it surely’s once we go to Gateway and clearly my priorities lie in IndyCar, however I’d like to do the following one. That’s the race I’d do completely. I don’t actually have curiosity doing one other race. I wish to try this one, and I feel it’d be cool.”
