McLaren Provides Health Update After Pato O’Ward Taken to Mexico GP Medical Centre
McLaren has offered a detailed update on the condition of Mexican driver Pato O’Ward after the IndyCar star and local favourite was taken to the medical centre following his participation in the first free practice session (FP1) at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
O’Ward, who was representing McLaren during FP1 in place of Lando Norris, completed a solid 30-lap session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. It marked his first official Formula 1 appearance since the same event last year. Despite his limited track time, O’Ward performed impressively, finishing the session in 13th place and drawing loud cheers from the Mexican fans who had eagerly awaited his return to F1 machinery.
However, shortly after concluding his session, the 25-year-old driver was unexpectedly taken to the circuit’s medical centre for evaluation. He reportedly began feeling unwell immediately after stepping out of the car and was unable to attend any of his scheduled post-session sponsor or media commitments.
McLaren later issued a statement confirming that O’Ward had indeed been assessed by medical staff. “He was taken to the medical centre for assessment after FP1, having reported feeling unwell,” the team announced. “After assessment and a period of observation, he was then discharged back to the team.”
The update brought relief to fans who had grown concerned after reports surfaced that O’Ward was seen heading to the medical area accompanied by team personnel. According to sources at the paddock, the medical staff carried out routine checks to ensure there were no underlying health issues before clearing him to leave.
When pressed for further information about what might have caused O’Ward’s sudden illness, McLaren declined to elaborate, simply stating that they would not provide additional details beyond their initial confirmation. The team did not confirm or deny rumours suggesting that food poisoning might have been the cause.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the incident, the tone of McLaren’s statement indicated that the situation was not serious and that O’Ward was recovering well. It remains unclear whether the Mexican driver will participate in any further duties over the race weekend, though sources suggest that his involvement in subsequent sessions was never planned, as Norris will resume driving for the remainder of the weekend.
O’Ward’s participation in FP1 was part of McLaren’s ongoing young driver programme, which gives emerging talents the opportunity to gain experience in Formula 1 machinery during select practice sessions. The Mexican, who competes for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar, has been closely linked with the team’s long-term plans and has previously expressed his ambition to eventually earn a full-time seat in F1.
Fans in Mexico had eagerly anticipated seeing O’Ward take to the track in front of his home crowd, and his performance did not disappoint. Despite limited preparation, he managed to hold his own against the regular drivers, completing 30 clean laps and providing valuable feedback to the team.
As of now, McLaren has not provided any further updates regarding O’Ward’s condition, but indications suggest he has fully recovered and rejoined the team in good spirits. The incident, while brief, served as a reminder of the physical demands placed on drivers, even during short practice sessions, particularly at high-altitude venues like Mexico City, where thinner air can take a toll on physical endurance.
The Mexico City Grand Prix continues this weekend with qualifying and the main race still ahead. Fans will be relieved to know that their home hero is doing fine after the brief health scare and that McLaren’s programme for the weekend remains on track.
In summary, Pato O’Ward’s brief trip to the medical centre appears to have been a precautionary measure. After medical evaluation and observation, he was released without further incident, and McLaren has since confirmed that the driver is back with the team and recovering well.
