I'm already in a position that I never thought I was ever going to be when I was younger," O'Ward said.
"Because I know F1 is put on a pedestal, but just because the plate looks like gold doesn't mean what you're eating is healthier for you," he added.
O'Ward expanded on his dissatisfaction with the electrical overtaking systems used in modern Formula 1 machinery.
"You don't want to be flipping a switch to say, 'Oh, I'm going to press it to pass him artificially.'
It's not Mario Kart; we're racing here. Honestly, I have zero desire to be part of that," O'Ward said.
The driver concluded by outlining his plans to use the reclaimed off-season time to prepare physically for the 2027 IndyCar championship campaign.
"I'm not excited to drive one, so I have politely asked to be fired from all my services in F1.
I want to focus on my priorities," O'Ward said.
"In the last four or five years, I haven't been able to do really any of that, so.
I want to be able to train more, I want to be able to eat better, and just prepare for 2027 which is going to come fast," he added.
O'Ward also expressed enthusiasm about his future teammate Scott Dixon, who will join Arrow McLaren from Chip Ganassi Racing.
"Honestly, just the idea of being able to learn from Scott, just so excited.
My first kind of feeling was I can't believe I'm going to able to learn from somebody like that.
Scott is the GOAT, Scott is the guy," O'Ward said.
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"Having that within a team climbs mountains. I can't wait to start working with him," he added.
