McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O\u2019Ward has given up on his Formula 1 dream, not because of his age or his success in IndyCar, but because of F1\u2019s new \u201cMario Kart\u201d racing.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Ward remains a reserve driver for McLaren\u2019s Formula 1 team, however, he\u2019s no longer looking at the sport for a potential move.<\/p>\n
Pato O\u2019Ward rejects Formula 1 over 2026 rules<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n After all, he doesn\u2019t like the new regulations.<\/p>\n The Mexican racer has spent the last four seasons building his credentials as a reserve for McLaren<\/a> while also racing in the IndyCar series for the Arrow McLaren team.<\/p>\n Taking part in at least one FP1 session in his four years as an F1 reserve, O\u2019Ward has also raced his way onto the IndyCar season\u2019s podium in two of his seven seasons with the McLaren squad.<\/p>\n Formula 1, though, was the dream.<\/p>\n But not anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cIs Formula 1 still a dream?\u201d the Mexican was asked by FOX Deportes.<\/p>\n O\u2019Ward replied: \u201cEvery year it has changed more\u2026 honestly, the new Formula 1 cars \u2014 what the series has done has been a mistake. The truth is, when you look at them, they are artificial.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hunger I had to get to Formula 1 wasn\u2019t for fame or money\u2026 it was because the cars were something impressive. Driving those cars was something impressive.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t want to be flipping a switch to say, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m going to press it to pass him artificially.\u2019 It\u2019s not Mario Kart; we\u2019re racing here.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I have zero desire to be part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Formula 1\u2019s new 2026 regulations have put the onus on electrical power with the engines running on a 50\/50 split between electrical and combustion power.<\/p>\n It means super clipping and battery harvesting have become the key phrases, with the drivers relying on electronic overtaking boosts. It\u2019s led to several drivers calling it \u201cMario Kart\u201d, even with the \u201cmushroom boost\u201d.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s now how O\u2019Ward wants to go racing.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel that right now, today, this is the best series for a driver who wants to race, here, in IndyCar\u2026 Formula 1 right now is an artificial show, and honestly, I have zero desire for it; it doesn\u2019t grab my attention.\u201d<\/p>\n But while O\u2019Ward is done, his former IndyCar rival Colton Herta is pressing on with his F1 plans.<\/p>\n An IndyCar race winner, Herta is racing in Formula 2 this season with his eyes firmly set on a place on the F1 grid in the future.<\/p>\n He has also signed on with Cadillac as its reserve driver and will be in action at the Spanish GP in FP1, one of four FP1 sessions that will move him closer towards the necessary super licence points to race in F1.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n