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Pato O_Ward \u2013 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach \u2013 By_ Paul Hurley<\/p>\nPato O\u2019Ward (pictured) has spent years chasing a Formula 1 dream while building a stellar career in IndyCar. As Arrow McLaren\u2019s star driver and the team\u2019s long-serving F1 reserve, the Mexican has completed multiple FP1 sessions, tested at Abu Dhabi, and stayed deeply connected to McLaren\u2019s Formula 1 program.<\/p>\n
\u2013by Mark Cipolloni\u2013<\/p>\n
Yet in April 2026, O\u2019Ward delivered a blunt verdict: he has \u201czero desire\u201d to race in F1 once the radical 2026 regulations arrive. The new cars, which he and others have likened to artificial creations loaded with electronic aids, no longer appeal to the driver who once saw F1 machinery as the pinnacle of pure racing.<\/p>\n
In a wide-ranging interview, O\u2019Ward pulled no punches.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year it has changed more\u2026 honestly, the new Formula 1 cars \u2014 what the series has done has been a mistake,\u201d he said. \u201cThe truth is, when you look at them, they are artificial. The hunger I had to get to Formula 1 wasn\u2019t for fame or money\u2026 it was because the cars were something impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n
He zeroed in on the power-unit changes and overtaking systems that dominate the 2026 rules. The regulations call for a near 50\/50 split between combustion and electrical power, with heavy emphasis on battery harvesting and \u201csuper clipping\u201d modes that deliver instant, driver-activated boosts. O\u2019Ward compared the result to a video game:<\/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. Honestly, I have zero desire to be part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old went further, declaring that IndyCar now represents \u201cthe best series for a driver who wants to race\u201d while F1 has morphed into \u201can artificial show\u201d that no longer grabs his attention.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Ward\u2019s comments arrive at a telling moment. McLaren confirmed in January 2026 that he will continue as one of its two official F1 reserve drivers alongside reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli. He remains embedded in the team\u2019s simulator and development work, yet he has drawn a firm line: reserve duties are fine; a full-time seat under the new rules is not.<\/p>\n
Pato O_Ward \u2013 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach \u2013 By_ Paul Hurley<\/p>\n
His stance stands in contrast to former IndyCar rival Colton Herta, who is actively chasing an F1 super license through Formula 2 and Cadillac reserve duties. O\u2019Ward, by comparison, appears content to stay stateside, where he has delivered podiums, consistent top finishes, and genuine wheel-to-wheel racing without push-to-pass buttons or scripted boosts.<\/p>\n
Criticism of the 2026 regulations is not isolated to O\u2019Ward. Multiple drivers and former champions have voiced concerns about the heavier reliance on electric power, complex energy-management systems, and smaller, aero-heavy cars that could reduce raw driver skill in favor of strategic button-pushing. The \u201cFrankenstein\u201d label\u2014evoking a car stitched together from hybrid tech, active aero, and overtaking aids\u2014captures the sentiment shared by those who fear F1 is prioritizing spectacle over substance.<\/p>\n
For O\u2019Ward the decision feels personal. He grew up idolizing the visceral, mechanical monsters of earlier F1 eras. The prospect of piloting what he sees as an electronically assisted hybrid no longer ignites that same passion. \u201cI feel that right now, today, this is the best series for a driver who wants to race, here, in IndyCar,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Whether the 2026 cars ultimately deliver thrilling racing or prove O\u2019Ward right remains to be seen. What is clear today is that one of IndyCar\u2019s brightest talents\u2014and McLaren\u2019s most visible American-linked prospect\u2014has officially walked away from the F1 dream. For fans who value old-school racing purity, O\u2019Ward\u2019s choice may feel less like a loss for Formula 1 and more like a win for IndyCar.<\/p>\n