Career Timeline of Pato O'Ward: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Pato O'Ward built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Patricio "Pato" O'Ward is a Mexican auto racing driver prominent in the IndyCar Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren. He's also part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme and acts as the reserve driver for their Formula One team. A significant achievement in his career is winning the 2018 Indy Lights championship.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2004: Adrian Fernandez's Last IndyCar Win

In 2004, Adrian Fernandez last IndyCar win at Fontana, a fact highlighted when Pato O'Ward became the first Mexican driver to win an IndyCar race since Fernandez.

2005: Karting Career Begins

In 2005, Pato O'Ward began his racing career in karting.

2012: Karting Career Ends

In 2012, Pato O'Ward ended his karting career.

2013: Open-Wheel Racing Debut

In 2013, Pato O'Ward competed in open-wheel racing, participating in Latam Fórmula 2000, Formula Renault 1.6 NEC, and Pacific F2000.

2014: French F4 Championship

In 2014, Pato O'Ward competed in the French F4 Championship.

2015: Pro Mazda Championship Debut

In 2015, Pato O'Ward debuted in the Pro Mazda Championship with Team Pelfrey, finishing sixth in the championship.

2016: Pro Mazda Championship Runner-Up

In 2016, Pato O'Ward returned to compete with Team Pelfrey in the Pro Mazda Championship, finishing the season as championship runner-up.

2016: Last Non-Team Penske Chevrolet IndyCar Win

In 2016, the last Chevrolet driver not from Team Penske to win a race, before Pato O'Ward's victory in 2021.

2017: SportsCar Championship Success

In 2017, Pato O'Ward and his co-drivers won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the PC class, making him the youngest driver ever to win both races, at seventeen years old. He also won the 2017 Prototype Challenge drivers championship and the North American Endurance Cup.

2018: Indy Lights Championship Win

In 2018, Pato O'Ward signed with Andretti Autosport to compete in the Indy Lights championship. He won nine of the seventeen races, was named Rookie of the Year, and won the drivers championship at the penultimate race of the season in Portland.

2018: IndyCar Series Debut

Two weeks after clinching the 2018 Indy Lights championship title, Pato O'Ward made his IndyCar Series debut at Sonoma Raceway in a second Harding Racing entry, where he qualified fifth and finished ninth, tying him with David Martínez for the best finish on debut by a Mexican driver in American open-wheel racing.

February 2019: Release from Harding Steinbrenner Racing

In February 2019, Pato O'Ward was granted his release from Harding Steinbrenner Racing due to sponsorship issues, where he was scheduled to pilot the No. 8 entry for the IndyCar Series full-time.

May 2019: Signing with Red Bull Junior Team

In May 2019, Pato O'Ward was signed to the Red Bull Junior Team.

2019: Part-Time Deal with Carlin

In 2019, Pato O'Ward joined Carlin on a part-time deal, driving in thirteen races. He drove Carlin's second entry for twelve races and Carlin's third entry for the Indianapolis 500, where he failed to qualify. He placed 26th in the final points standings, with the best race finish of eighth.

2019: Departure from Red Bull

In 2019, Pato O'Ward was released early from his Red Bull contract after three Super Formula rounds due to the FIA awarding fewer Super License points for his Indy Lights championship win and a McLaren IndyCar series ride becoming available.

2020: First Season with Arrow McLaren SP

In 2020, during his first season with Arrow McLaren SP, Pato O'Ward achieved his first podium finish at Road America, finishing second, and finished fourth in the first race at Iowa. He finished sixth in his first Indianapolis 500 start and won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award.

November 2021: First Formula One Car Experience

On November 14, 2021, Pato O'Ward had his first opportunity to drive a Formula One Car, demonstrating a McLaren MP4/13 at Laguna Seca and beat his fastest lap time around Laguna Seca in the Dallara DW12 with the UAK18 aero kit by over a second with the MP4/13.

December 2021: Abu Dhabi Test with MCL35M

On December 14, 2021, Pato O'Ward tested the McLaren MCL35M at the end of the season in Abu Dhabi, finishing fourth-fastest after completing 92 laps.

2021: Championship Hopes End at Long Beach

At the season finale in Long Beach in 2021, Pato O'Ward's championship hopes ended after being taken out early in the race, resulting in a broken driveshaft and retirement. He finished third in the championship and won the A.J. Foyt Cup as the highest-scoring driver on oval courses.

2021: Maiden IndyCar Victory

In 2021, Pato O'Ward took his maiden IndyCar victory in the second race at the Texas Motor Speedway, becoming the first Mexican driver to win an IndyCar race since Adrian Fernandez in 2004 at Fontana and the first Chevrolet driver not from Team Penske to win a race since 2016.

May 2022: Contract Extension with Arrow McLaren SP

On May 27, 2022, Pato O'Ward announced he had signed a three-year contract extension with Arrow McLaren SP.

July 2022: Potential Additional Formula One Tests

In July 2022, Pato O'Ward was confirmed for additional Formula One tests with McLaren, with the possibility of late-season race weekend practice time.

September 2022: Test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

In September 2022, it was announced that Pato O'Ward would carry out another test with McLaren at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya together with Álex Palou.

2022: 24 Hours of Daytona Win

In 2022, Pato O'Ward participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona in the LMP2 entry with DragonSpeed, partnered by Colton Herta, Devlin DeFrancesco, and Eric Lux. The team won after an overtake by Herta for first place in the final 11 minutes of the race.

April 2023: McLaren Driver Development Programme

In April 2023, McLaren formed a new Driver Development Programme, with Pato O'Ward signed to it.

2023: 2023 IndyCar Season

In 2023, Pato O'Ward finished fourth in the championship, having the most podium finishes and top five finishes of his career, although he picked up no wins during the season.

2024: First Free Practice Appearance in Home Country

During the 2024 season, Pato O'Ward made his first free practice appearance of the 2024 season during the Mexico City Grand Prix, and finished the session in thirteenth. This marked the first time that O'Ward competed in a Formula One session within his home country.

2024: 2024 IndyCar Season

In 2024, O'Ward was awarded the win at St. Petersburg after Josef Newgarden was stripped of the victory for violating push to pass regulations. He led eleven laps and finished second in the 2024 Indianapolis 500, following a last-lap pass from winner Josef Newgarden. O'Ward scored his second win of the year at Mid-Ohio, becoming the first driver to win a race in IndyCar's hybrid powertrain era. O'Ward secured his third win at the Milwaukee Mile, marking his first season with more than two wins.

2024: Confirmed as Reserve Driver

In November 2023, McLaren confirmed Pato O'Ward as one of their reserve drivers for the 2024 season.

2025: Free Practice Return

In 2025, O'Ward made his free practice return during the 2025 season, at his home Mexico City Grand Prix once again for McLaren. He repeated this feat at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and followed it up by partaking in the young drivers' test at the Yas Marina Circuit a few days after.

2025: 2025 IndyCar Season

In 2025, Pato O'Ward finished third in the Indianapolis 500 and earned his eighth-career victory at Iowa 1, marking his one-hundredth race in the series. He also won at Toronto.