INDIANAPOLIS – We all recognized Pato O’Ward’s talent last year. The Mexican driver won nine times in 17 starts to earn the 2018 Indy Lights championship. The year prior, O’Ward won 10 times in 12 IMSA starts on his way to a championship there too. That has led to what should have been a promising future in the NTT IndyCar Series.

Unfortunately, it appears that his Indy Car stint may be short lived. On Wednesday, Carlin and O’Ward announced that the 20 year old will be the newest member of the Red Bull Junior Team. For those that are unaware, this program grooms young drivers for a potential F1 seat, not IndyCar.

Drivers like Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Daniil Kvyat, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz Jr. and others have successfully completed the program and earned F1 seats.

“We’re delighted that Pato’s potential has been recognized by the Red Bull Junior Team, a program that has helped incredibly talented drivers in the past. Whatever Pato’s future holds we know he has a successful and exciting career ahead of him,” commented Team Principal Trevor Carlin. “Together with Pato and the entire Carlin INDYCAR team we are very much focused on the season ahead and of course the Month of May. This is without doubt our most intense month of the year and the Indianapolis 500 remains the absolute jewel in the crown of all motorsport. Pato and the rest of the team are determined to make the most of our continued development and improvements on and off track and claim the best result possible.”

O’Ward will join teammate Max Chilton this weekend for the INDYCAR Grand Prix before beginning a week of practice in preparation for qualifying and his debut at the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500. He will run out his contract with Carlin in 2019 and move to Red Bull for the future.