Fans flocked to see NTT INDYCAR SERIES star Pato O’Ward in Mexico City this week – and that was before he even arrived at the racetrack to drive a Formula One car in his native land for the first time.
Arrow McLaren driver O’Ward participated in Free Practice 1 for McLaren Racing in the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday, Oct. 25 before legions of his loyal fans. But Patomania in his native country started two days earlier when fans surrounded him when he arrived at a promotional function Wednesday night at the Plaza Reforma 222 shopping mall in downtown Mexico City.
“My thoughts were, ‘How the hell am I going to get to the center of the mall?’” O’Ward said. “It was beyond what I ever would have expected. It’s amazing to have so much love and support from the whole country, really. Such a cool weekend.”
The lovefest continued when O’Ward took to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit Friday afternoon for his long-awaited run in an F1 car before his adoring home fans.
O’Ward ended up 13th overall with a lap of 1 minute, 19.295 seconds, just slightly more than three-tenths of a second behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who is fourth in the World Championship standings and has two victories this season. O’Ward also was less than a tenth of a second slower than the highly touted Kimi Antonelli, who is replacing Ferrari-bound seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton next season at Mercedes.
“Pato is the most popular driver in INDYCAR,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said. “His popularity is growing by the moment, and I think it’s a great opportunity for INDYCAR, via Pato, to introduce new fans to INDYCAR. You’ve got the biggest form of motorsport in the world in Formula One that will see just how good Pato is.
“He just did an excellent job. I think INDYCAR needs to let Formula One fans know because I believe that people who like Formula One will also like INDYCAR if they’re unfamiliar with it. Seize the opportunity to take Pato’s Formula One popularity and turn new fans into INDYCAR fans.”
There’s no doubt O’Ward’s speed and outgoing, zesty personality resonate with his homeland fans, as he was swarmed by supporters in Mexico City and by journalists after his FP1 session.
“They are extremely passionate,” O’Ward said of the Mexican fans. “They support their athletes and their sporting idols like no other. They bring a lot of energy to the racetrack.
“Turning laps in Mexico, in front of the home crowd, I haven’t had a chance to do it in a professional level yet. This is the closest I’ve ever come to doing that. I know this wasn’t a race, but driving a Formula One car in front of the home crowd is really special.”
O’Ward sees this F1 practice run as the first of hopefully many chances he gets to drive before his home fans. Discussions are underway to possibly bring an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race to Mexico, and Brown and O’Ward are all for it.
“I think I’m a believer that INDYCAR should expand but expand within the Americas, and I think Mexico is a huge market for motorsports – always has been,” Brown said. “And will just continue to draw eyeballs to INDYCAR throughout the world.”
Said O’Ward: “I absolutely think the fans would show up for an INDYCAR race (in Mexico). I’ve been saying it for years, and I think (promotional visit to mall) Wednesday proved my point.”