Pato O’Ward should be the prime candidate for the Cadillac/GM seat in 2026.
The IndyCar driver has proved through results and determination that he is ready for the change.
O’Ward has been part of the McLaren family since 2020, when he signed with Arrow McLaren, after driving part-time for Carlin in 2019, but his F1 journey began in 2019.
The Mexican signed with the Red Bull Junior Team that year in May, after having won the IndyLights title a year prior.
O’Ward was due to be awarded 15 points to bank into his Super License for his championship, however the FIA changed the amount to 12, crushing any dreams the Mexican could have had of going into F1 by 2020 with Red Bull.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, let O’Ward go after one season so he could drive in IndyCar with McLaren.
This is not O’Ward’s first rodeo in terms of looking for a seat in F1.
During the past five years in the American series, the 25-year-old has accumulated seven wins, 26 podiums and five poles. He has been given recognitions such as the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 2020, and is a two-time Indy 500 runner-up.
His fellow IndyCar drivers have also applauded the driver for his skills and spiritedness when it comes to his results on track.
This year, the Mexican lost the Indy 500 during the last lap of the race, falling to Josef Newgarden in the last corner. The American driver praised O’Ward’s performance during the Indy 500 champions dinner.
“You are a great competitor, one of the best in the world.”
— INDYCAR on NBC (@IndyCaronNBC) May 28, 2024
Nothing but respect between Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward after their duel in the #Indy500. pic.twitter.com/nhyJPOP4KD
It has been some tough years for the Mexican in IndyCar, mostly having a bunch of mechanical and strategy problems, but O’Ward has proved his talent.
Other series besides F1, such as NASCAR and Formula E, have also shown interest in having O’Ward join them, even if it is for one race.
The IndyCar driver will be having a showcase with his Arrow McLaren during the Mexico City E-Prix, and a demo-run on the NEOM McLaren’s Formula E car.
NASCAR will be having their first international race in history in Mexico City next year, for which both O’Ward and the co-owner of 23XI Racing have expressed interest in collaborating.
Pato O’Ward, three-time winner in INDYCAR this season, is looking for chances to race in his home country.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 4, 2024
NASCAR in Mexico could be one for him in the near future. pic.twitter.com/2aUe8cfnGI
McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, has also given the Mexican green light in regards to running in Mexico City if O’Ward can get a ride in the series.
Last year, O’Ward became eligible to hold a Super License after reaching the required 40 points, resulting in him becoming the reserve driver for McLaren this season.
Brown has also has been very vocal about his interest in keeping the Mexican within the Papaya family. When asked about whether O’Ward will be making a move to F1 soon or not, he answered by saying, “Pato we want to have 100% focused on IndyCar.”
Regardless of Brown’s interests, there are no open seats in McLaren for O’Ward to move to, nor will there be in the near future with the success Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been giving them.
The IndyCar driver will need to start looking into other options to fulfill his childhood dream. A drive such as Cadillac would be a perfect fit for both the team, and the driver.
Nowadays, O’Ward drives his Arrow McLaren powered by a Chevrolet engine, which happens to be within the same family as Cadillac.
It would be beneficial for the American team to have a driver such as O’Ward; marketing and performance wise.
By having another American team on the grid, with someone such as Mario Andretti on the Directors Board, it would be senseless to not consider an IndyCar driver for the seat.
His popularity off track is also something to look out for. O’Ward alone has around 64K more followers on Instagram than the IndyCar account. There are only two other drivers with more followers than the 25-year-old, Romain Grosjean (ex-F1 driver), and Robert Shwartzman (ex-Ferrari reserve driver).
A lot of people will argue that there are a countless number of drivers who deserve this seat more or less than O’Ward, but what the Mexican brings is experience, far more than others who could be considered, and a fresh outlook.
If what Cadillac wants is a team-winning lineup, then O’Ward should definitely be on their radar.
