Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward has requested to be relieved of his Formula 1 reserve duties, choosing to focus entirely on his IndyCar commitments.
The 27-year-old Mexican driver spoke directly with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown about stepping down from the role he has held since 2024.
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O'Ward has participated in five Formula 1 free practice sessions during his tenure as a reserve driver.
He currently sits fifth in the 2026 IndyCar standings and recently signed a contract extension through 2027 alongside Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist.
"I haven't had an off-season in the last five years.
I want to enjoy my life outside of racing because it does consume me and it has consumed me in the last five years," O'Ward said on the Speed Street podcast with Conor Daly.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunities to test Formula 1 machinery in Abu Dhabi and Mexico.
"I'm grateful for the experiences and all the things that I've been able to learn in the world of Formula 1," O'Ward said.
But he noted a shift in his personal priorities, explaining that the dual schedule left him unable to control his own calendar.
"I really think I'm just in a different point of my life now and I really don't care anymore.
There's really nothing in me that is aching to keep on as a reserve in Formula 1 because I'm in a great place in IndyCar," O'Ward said.
