INDIANAPOLIS — Sometimes things just happen for a reason. Pato O’Ward in the early spring of 2022 was mad that he felt like he was wasting time here in INDYCAR. Not that he didn’t want to be here, it was just that he held F1 dreams and knew that the deadline to get a seat overseas was likely 25 years of age. He was about to turn 24 and had nothing really in place with McLaren to get there.

McLaren had hired Colton Herta for an F1 testing opportunity. O’Ward felt like that was his opportunity taken from out underneath him.

As a result, he sulked. It affected his performance. Then he eventually decided that if it was meant to be, then let it be. But he wasn’t doing himself any favors while mad at the situation that he found himself in.

“I think it’s not a secret, right? This passion that I have for motorsports, it started with Formula 1,” O’Ward said in March of 2022. “Of course, I’d be interested to be in Formula 1. But if the right opportunity arises and if I was able to extract the extra things that Formula 1 offers you as a professional, as an individual.

“I love INDYCAR. I love INDYCAR racing. I think the series is on a constant rise. I think it’s going to keep getting bigger and bigger. My job right now is to try and help that in getting it bigger, specifically in the Latin market. I think we’ve done a good job so far but I think it can still grow a lot.

“What I think people need to understand is, yes, I get it, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports. In terms of competition there is nothing harder than INDYCAR because everything is closer to each other. We’ll see how the F1 unravels with the new regulation this year, all that stuff.

“There’s very limited seats. Many of the times, as we’ve seen in other forms of motorsports, it’s not about can you do it, but is there a seat available, is there someone that wants to put you in that seat.”

He felt like McLaren didn’t want to put him in the seat. He was 12th in the season opener at St. Pete that season then 15th in the next race in Texas.

Then he had an ephiany. Why have a bad outlook any longer. Why not just show that he deserved an opportunity.

He finished 5th in Long Beach then won at Barber a race after. A month later, he was handed a contract extension through 2025 with opportunities to maybe come in F1.

Now, 18 months later, the chips wildly fell and McLaren announced that O’Ward will be set for his second free practice 1 session for the McLaren Formula 1 Team at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Mexican driver confirmed to drive Lando Norris’ car in the 60-minute session at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The 24-year-old will also drive for their F1 team in the end-of-season test at the Yar Marina Circuit following the race in Abu Dhabi.

Talk about a change in outcomes. Herta couldn’t get a Superlicense, Alex Palou spurned the team and O’Ward maintained loyalty. Now, he gets rewarded for it.

O’Ward put together an impressive debut in 2022 in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he clocked up 22 laps in Norris’ car. Despite missing a period of the session due to technical issues, he still managed to finish 18th overall with a time of 1:28.35, collecting invaluable data for the team and completing his assigned programme.

O’Ward is a member of their Driver Development Program and already has extensive experience in old-spec McLaren F1 machinery as part of the program, driving the MCL35M in multiple private tests.

The difference now is, he likely has an Superlicense at his disposal to where he has 3 top 4 points finishes in 4 years. He had 7 of McLaren’s 10 podium finishes in 2023 and depending on how it pans out with Norris and Oscar Piastri, maybe O’Ward is in play for a future F1 ride after all.