Pato O'Ward delivers a two-word message on McLaren's first F1 triumph after 26 years of disappointment

Pato O'Ward heaped praise on McLaren as the British outfit secured its first F1 constructors' championship after waiting for 26 years. The Mexican IndyCar driver fields a full-time entry for Arrow McLaren and is a reserve driver for the team's F1 spoils.

The 2024 F1 season was concluded at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. McLaren's Lando Norris claimed his career-first win in Miami and wrapped the year with four wins, even dominating the penultimate race. The same was with his teammate Oscar Piastri who secured his first F1 victory this season. He did so at the Hungarian GP and concluded the 24-race slate with two wins.

That being said, Pato O'Ward's team scored 666 points while Ferrari, the runner-up, was shy of 14 points. It marked McLaren's first constructors' title since 1998. The Indy NXT champion cherished his team's F1 fate and reacted via his Instagram on Sunday, December 8, writing:

"LFGGGGG. CHAMPSSSS!!!," O'Ward wrote.

Pato O'Ward on Instagram (@patriciooward)

The IndyCar driver has run several Free Practice sessions in F1 as FIA has instructed the teams to run two rookie drivers in two practice runs each season. He most recently tamed the MCL38 at his home track in Mexico and has otherwise fielded older McLaren cars in private tests.

The second Free Practice stint was taken over by McLaren's second reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa who is in the driver development program, and replaced Piastri in Abu Dhabi GP's Free Practice 1.

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Pato O'Ward set to participate in the post-season F1 Young Driver Test

The Formula 1 community was introduced to the post-season Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi in 2010 and has been in practice since. There are several objectives behind conducting a post-season shakedown, including deducing where the teams stand in the pecking order, extracting the last bits of car data, taking notes for the next season, and more.

Pato O'Ward has been in the McLaren family since 2020. The Mexican driver posted an impressive performance during his Free Practice stint when he stood second fastest, just 0.269s off pace against Alpine's Esteban Ocon, an experienced F1 driver with the 2021 Hungarian GP win in his arsenal.

As a result, McLaren has shown confidence in its IndyCar star for the post-season Young Driver test. Pato O'Ward will join Jack Doohan, Alpine's 2025 driver alongside Pierre Gasly, and Kimi Antonelli, the future Mercedes driver who will replace Lewis Hamilton next season, and more.

It's worth mentioning that despite being at high odds of entering F1, he is unlikely be seen driving for McLaren until the 2027 season begins as both Norris and Piastri have a contract for the 2026 season. However, with Cadillac's entry as the 11th team on the grid, O'Ward's prospect of making an F1 debut soon is still alive.