Pato O’Ward has signed a multi-year extension with McLaren Racing, IndyCar announced Friday.
The Mexican driver begins his fifth full season in IndyCar, all with Arrow McLaren, and at the end of last year he named the McLaren reserve driver for his Formula 1 team.
The Indianapolis Star reported this week that O’Ward signed a two-year extension after F1 promotion that pushed his contract past its original expiration in 2025 and earned him $10. 2 million in additional salary. The disclosure was contained in court documents similar to McLaren’s breach. of a contract lawsuit that opposes Alex Palou, who has rethought his goal of signing for McLaren for the IndyCar season that starts next week.
O’Ward, 24, has 4 career wins and 20 podiums in 64 starts with McLaren. He also received the Super License required to compete in F1. The team announced Friday that O’Ward would be McLaren’s reserve driver in F1 after the IndyCar season, which ends in September.
“I couldn’t be more excited to sign this deal with the team,” O’Ward said. “McLaren has my home and I’m proud to race in papaya for at least a few more years. “
Arrow McLaren team principal Gavin Ward said the team had grown up around O’Ward. McLaren will box cars for O’Ward, Alexander Rossi and David Malukas this year, Malukas was recently injured and is expected to miss the first two races of the season. .
“It’s been wonderful to watch Pato and the team grow together. We’re excited to continue racing with him and I can’t wait to show the racing world what we can accomplish as a group,” said Ward. Dusting it off before the start of the season means the No. 5 Chevrolet Arrow McLaren team can move into the St. Petersburg Grand Prix without distractions and with one purpose in mind: to execute the race weekend to our full potential. “