Overview
- Pato O’Ward, in a FOX Deportes interview on Friday, called Formula 1 an “artificial show” and said he has “zero desire” to join under its current rules.
- O’Ward argued that racing should hinge on driver skill in braking zones and fast corners, not on flipping a switch to make passes or juggling battery maps.
- He praised IndyCar as the place that delivers the raw, driver-led racing he values and said F1 no longer appeals to him.
- Reporting linked his critique to F1’s 2026 power rules, which shift to a roughly 50/50 split between engine and battery and can cause “superclipping,” where the car starts recharging even at full throttle and changes how overtakes and corner speeds play out.
- He enters Long Beach sixth in the IndyCar standings and is chasing his first win of the season as he doubles down on a long-term commitment to the series.