Overview
- Pato O'Ward told Conor Daly on the Speed Street podcast that he has "politely asked to be fired" from his McLaren Formula 1 reserve and test duties and no longer seeks an F1 race seat.
- McLaren and Arrow McLaren have confirmed O'Ward will stay in their 2027 IndyCar line-up alongside Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist while Leonardo Fornaroli is McLaren's primary F1 reserve contingency.
- O'Ward cited specific reasons for the move: lack of excitement for the current F1 machinery, recent rules that increase electrification, and the toll of year‑round commitments that have left him with no meaningful off‑season.
- His exit from reserve duties closes a chapter that included multiple FP1 outings and post‑season tests with McLaren since 2022, work that never produced a full‑time F1 race seat.
- The change will free O'Ward to focus on training, recovery and 2027 preparation and forces McLaren to rely more on Fornaroli for F1 cover, which could influence how teams manage drivers who split time between series.