Brown: Winning IndyCar title is O’Ward’s quickest way to F1
Pato O’Ward’s best chance of making the switch to Formula 1 would come by winning the IndyCar championship, according to McLaren's Zak Brown.
O’Ward enjoyed his first taste of F1 machinery at the end of last year in Abu Dhabi when he took part in the young driver test as a reward for scoring his maiden IndyCar win for the Arrow McLaren SP squad.
The Mexican driver finished the year third in the IndyCar standings and was in contention for the championship until the final race, taking wins in Texas and Detroit.
Following his test in the McLaren MCL35M in Abu Dhabi, O’Ward said he thought there was a two-year window to make an F1 switch happen, and that he would do “everything I can to make it happen”.
McLaren Racing CEO Brown has long stressed the importance of O’Ward remaining focused on his duties in IndyCar, and felt that winning the championship would be the easiest way for him to stake a claim to a future F1 seat.
“That’s exactly what I told him, the quickest way to F1 is to go and do what Juan Pablo Montoya or Alex Zanardi or Jacques Villeneuve or Michael Andretti did: go win in IndyCar,” Brown said.
“That’s going to be your best chance of getting into F1. He’s unbelievably talented. He’s a great personality. I think he’s got what it takes from a raw talent point of view to be a Formula 1 driver.
Patricio O'Ward, McLaren MCL35M
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
"Obviously Formula 1 is a much more different discipline, so he’s got a lot to learn, with all the buttons for example. But for sure he will [learn].
“He needs to stay very focused on IndyCar. It’s going to be his best route into F1. I think his [two-year] timeline is about right.”
The comparison to Montoya is one that Brown has previously bestowed on O’Ward.
The two drivers are set to be team-mates for McLaren at this year’s Indianapolis 500 when Montoya returns to the team in a third car for the race.
O’Ward scored another major career victory last weekend by winning the LMP2 class at the Daytona 24 Hours with DragonSpeed alongside Colton Herta, Devlin DeFrancesco and Eric Lux.
But he vented his frustration earlier this month over the “ridiculous” requirements of the FIA superlicence points system, which only rewards the IndyCar champion with the necessary 40 points to race in F1.
Related video
Who will have the F1 race director role in 2022?
Top 10 Ferrari F1 drivers ranked: Schumacher, Lauda, Alonso and more
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1? Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram
BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram BTCC Silverstone: Turkington wins as title fight goes down to Sutton and Ingram
Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP
Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP Video: Verstappen and Red Bull strike back at the F1 Japanese GP
Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review
Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review Autosport Podcast: F1 Japanese GP review
Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed
Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed Bagnaia 'cannot make mistakes' like India crash after MotoGP points lead slashed
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.