{"id":297951,"date":"2023-11-23T17:23:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T17:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=297951"},"modified":"2023-11-23T17:23:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-23T17:23:55","slug":"mclaren-makes-long-awaited-new-driver-signing-for-2024-f1-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/racing\/f1\/mclaren-makes-long-awaited-new-driver-signing-for-2024-f1-season\/","title":{"rendered":"McLaren makes long-awaited new driver signing for 2024 F1 season"},"content":{"rendered":"
McLaren has signed IndyCar driver Pato O\u2019Ward to its team ahead of the 2024 Formula One season. The Chevrolet driver for Arrow McLaren will join the F1 team’s pool of reserve drivers alongside his current IndyCar duties after long being tipped to make the switch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u2019Ward’s move to F1 comes having started his career in the Pro Mazda Championship before progressing into IndyCar Series racing. The 24-year-old went on to join McLaren Racing in 2020 – the same year he won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n
With seven podium finishes to his name – finishing fourth overall in this year\u2019s IndyCar championship – O’Ward was able to qualify for a Super Licence that would allow him to become a reserve driver for McLaren alongside racing in IndyCar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mexican driver will join the likes of Le Mans 24 Hours winner Ryo Hirakawa. He will also be expected to step in if the team’s regular drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are unable to compete.<\/p>\n
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\u201cPumped to take on this new role within the McLaren Racing family,\u201d O’Ward said after his new role was announced. \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of time with the F1 team having driven previously in free practice and taken part in a few tests.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always said it’s never a bad day when you get to jump into an F1 car, so I look forward to joining the reserve driver pool for next year alongside my driving duties with Arrow McLaren.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to Andrea (Stella, McLaren F1 Team Principal) and Zak Brown (McLaren Racing CEO) for this great opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
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