Pato O’Ward has been handed a FP1 drive by McLaren Racing for his home event in F1 Mexico GP, as part of the FIA rookies programme.
Having had the chance to drive the McLaren F1 car in FP1 of 2022 and 2023 Abu Dhabi GP – as part of the FIA rookie programme – IndyCar driver O’Ward will have his first chance to drive the MCL38 in his home event in Mexico GP later this year.
O’Ward is one of the McLaren reserves and this will be his first go in a F1 machinery in 2024. “I’ve got some pretty exciting news to tell you all today,” said O’Ward in a video. “I will be joining McLaren Formula 1 at the Mexican Grand Prix but this time around I will be jumping in the car for FP1.
“I cannot wait, this really is a dream come true for me – being able to jump into an F1 car in front of my home crowd. I can’t thank Andrea, Zak – the whole team – enough for this amazing opportunity. The car’s been a rocket this year.
“So, I’ll be trying to do my part and help them as much as I can for the rest of the year. I’ve got Nashville this weekend in IndyCar, so that’s the priority now, but can’t wait to get going and I’m actually flying over to Europe at the end of this week to start all my Formula 1 duties. I can’t wait.”
Here: https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/1833795023860564038
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[Note: The story is as per press release]
