Once the dust settles at the end of a season, most racing drivers usually have one thing on their minds: a well-earned holiday, but Pato O’Ward is only thinking of his neck.

Following the conclusion of his NTT INDYCAR campaign, Pato’s attention switched to Formula 1 testing and his upcoming FP1 outing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as part of his role in our Driver Development programme.

He still makes time for a much-needed break, but maximising these unique opportunities is at the top of his agenda, which means strengthening his neck. There are several differences between F1 and INDYCAR, but the neck muscle required to drive a Formula 1 car, due to the extreme G-forces produced, is by far the most noticeable.

Proper preparation allows him to perform at his peak but also to enjoy the experience.

“I cannot tell you how excited I was to drive the car with the neck not being a limitation anymore,” he says following a recent private test in the MCL35M at Barcelona. “I am proud of the time I have put into [neck training] because it has been torture. The Formula 1 car is special on the neck, so that is definitely the big focus for me every time I finish my INDYCAR season.

“Every time you jump into a Formula 1 car, it is a happy day. I love working with the team on this side of the world - I don't get to do it much during the year, so my off-season is usually filled with a lot of time spent with them, truly enjoying what we get to do.

“I am beyond ecstatic and always very grateful. I’m extracting all the opportunities they are giving me and putting myself into a position where I am ready for anything.”

Pato is a part of our official Driver Development programme, which is led by Emanuele Pirro and now features five drivers. As well as spending time in the simulator and working with our team, this provides Pato with the chance to drive F1 machinery.

This primarily comes through private tests in older machinery, currently 2021’s MCL35M, but it also puts him in contention to drive for our F1 team in FP1. We’re required to run two rookies in free practice sessions each season, and Oscar fulfilled the first of those on his debut, with Pato being selected to complete the second.

The 24-year-old’s continued opportunities come on the back of another successful NTT INDYCAR season with Arrow McLaren, where he scored seven podiums and only narrowly missed out on a victory at Texas, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ standings.

Not purely a reward for his continued progress, these opportunities are viewed as vital to his continued development, increasing the Mexican’s skillset and complimenting his INDYCAR challenge.

“I love being a part of McLaren as a whole,” Pato continues. “First of all, because Zak is a wonderful boss. He understands that the last people that should be putting pressure on us is [management] because, as a driver, we put pressure on ourselves. I expect excellence from myself, and I always strive to get better.

“You will have setbacks, it is about how you tackle them and come back stronger. I love being a part of this group of people, not just the engineers and the mechanics who put so much energy and sacrifice into making these cars go as fast as possible, but all of the executives in the brand who are very supportive and have always got your back.

“You can never stop learning. As a driver, you’re always getting better. Even in areas that you think you’ve maximised, there are still things you can improve on. Maybe not in optimal lap time, but in race runs. You’re always trying to perfect it.”

Pato made his official F1 debut for us in FP1 at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and despite missing part of the session due to technical issues, he still managed 22 laps in Lando’s car, finishing 18th.

Switching from one type of single-seater to another will always take some getting used to, but his continued exposure to our F1 cars has significantly decreased this adjustment time and made him increasingly competitive.

“Initially, the car is new to you, and it requires a new technique and a very different set of skills, which you need to start perfecting to get the maximum out of it,” Pato says. “At first, it is obviously overwhelming, but I am pretty ecstatic about how the most recent test went. I feel like I am driving the car now, I don't feel like a passenger anymore. 

“When you start feeling at one with the car, that is when you can start getting into the fine details of it. It is all about extracting the best technique. The car likes to be driven in a certain way, and the more you can perfect that technique, the better you will be able to extract the maximum out of it, and the more you can really showcase what you've got. 

“After driving in FP1 last year, I have an understanding of the current car, in terms of the philosophy of it and the differences compared to the MCL35M. It is quite a bit different in terms of how it feels, its ride height attitude, and things like that because the car is quite a bit more on the deck. But a lot is also very similar: the engine, the power delivery, and it still stops very well, so it is going to be very enjoyable for me.”