McLaren driver shows interest in Mario Andretti-backed Cadillac F1 seat: "There is a possibility"

Mario Andretti, who joined the General Motors-backed Cadillac F1 team as its Director, has a good problem on his hands. The IndyCar legend had prioritized Andretti Global's IndyCar driver, Colton Herta, as a contender for the 2026 F1 seat. Moreover, a McLaren driver has now expressed interest in securing a potential drive with Cadillac.

Cadillac will enter F1 as its 11th team in 2026. Pato O'Ward, who drives for McLaren Racing's IndyCar team, Arrow McLaren, and serves as a reserve driver for their F1 team, hinted at the possibility of joining Cadillac. After participating in the F1 post-season test at Abu Dhabi for McLaren, he addressed this topic.

"Of course, there are possibilities (of going to GM/Cadillac)," O'Ward said (via Fox Sports MX). "I have a very good relationship with Zak (Brown, McLaren CEO) and he knows that one of my goals as a driver (and) as a person, has always been F1. And as much as he wants, if I take that step, to be here (at McLaren), I think he understands that he also has a good problem, that he has two very strong drivers, but you never know how everything will go."

Though O'Ward admitted there were no discussions yet, he kept the door of possibilities open.

"Suddenly Max (Verstappen) decides to retire, and he is already talking about (fatherhood). And GM/ Cadillac comes in, I have a relationship with Chevrolet, which is something that is jointly with GM (General Motors) and, there is a possibility. There is a possibility. But right now there really hasn't been much talk about it," the 25-year-old added. [translated by Google]

If McLaren CEO Zak Brown allows his star driver the flexibility to negotiate with Cadillac, O'Ward's F1 dream would get a step closer. But before that, he would be going up against his IndyCar rival and Mario Andretti's current favorite, Colton Herta, for the seat. For a brief while, rumors of Daniel Ricciardo returning to F1 with Cadillac swirled too, but the Aussie put them to rest with a definite no.

Ahead of their new venture in F1, Mario Andretti also spoke about McLaren's recent success as constructor's championship winners and how his side can emulate their approach.

Mario Andretti sets McLaren's smooth operations as the benchmark for Cadillac F1

McLaren F1 team after winning the 2024 Constructor's championship at the Abu Dhabi GP - Source: Getty

McLaren scripted a beautiful turnaround in 2024 to take their first F1 constructors' championship since 1998. After years of stagnation in the midfield, the tides turned in mid-2023 after Zak Brown handed the team's reins to Andrea Stella. Thereon, they never looked back.

This year, their MCL38 matched Red Bull's RB20 and surpassed the Adrian Newey creation on almost all occasions after the first 10 races of the season. Both McLaren drivers took their maiden career wins this year, with Lando Norris converting it into four wins for the season and Oscar Piastri making it two.

Mario Andretti recently appeared for an interview on the 'Drive to Wynn' show. When host Justin Bell asked him about which F1 team's model he'd like to replicate for Cadillac, the four-time IndyCar champion named McLaren without any hesitance. He said:

"Probably McLaren, at the moment. What they have been able to... the level they are competing... If we look at the beginning of the season to where it is now, it's amazing to see. It's all about the effort, it's the people you surround yourself with and all that and make the difference. The drivers, the technical side, and that's what makes it work. We know that one movement in a key position in a team can bring things around. We've seen that in McLaren, obviously, and Zak Brown will be the first one to admit it." [28:00]

For 2026, Cadillac has entered into a technical partnership with Ferrari, making the iconic Italian team its engine supplier. On the personnel end, the American team has appointed Graeme Lowdon, who was in Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu's management team and was involved in Manor's F1 project in the mid-2010s, as its Team Principal.