Patricio “Pato” O’Ward is a 26-year-old Mexican racing driver who competes in the IndyCar Series for Arrow McLaren. He is currently one of the most popular and successful drivers in American open-wheel racing.
He was born on May 6, 1999, in Monterrey, Mexico, and later moved to the United States where he grew up. He is known for his aggressive driving style, his connection with Mexican racing fans, and his bright personality both on and off the track.
In 2025, he finished second in the IndyCar championship standings after a strong season that included wins at Iowa and Toronto. He continues to chase his biggest goal: winning the Indianapolis 500, where he finished second in 2022 and 2024.
Early Life and Childhood
Pato O’Ward was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, to parents Patricio O’Ward and Elba Junco. His father and mother both played important roles in supporting his racing dreams from a young age.
When he was still very young, his family moved between Mexico and Texas. He eventually attended high school in San Antonio, Texas, which is where he spent most of his teenage years.
His surname “O’Ward” comes from his Irish great-grandfather, which makes it unusual for someone from Mexico. However, Pato has said publicly that he considers himself “full-blown Mexican” and is proud of his Mexican heritage.
He has one sister named Elba O’Ward, who is very close to him and frequently appears at his races to support him. She married Brett Michael Kimbro on December 2, 2023, in a beautiful wedding ceremony in Monterrey that Pato attended.
Growing up, Pato’s family encouraged his interest in racing but also made sure he understood the importance of education and staying grounded. This balance helped shape who he became as both an athlete and a person.
How Racing Started
Pato O’Ward began his racing journey in karting at the end of 2005 when he was just six years old. He continued karting until 2012, winning multiple championships in both Mexico and the United States.
During his karting years, he won two SKUSA (Superkarts! USA) junior titles, which showed he had real talent even as a young child. These early victories got the attention of racing teams and sponsors.
In 2013, when he was 14 years old, he moved from karting to open-wheel racing. That year, he competed in three different series: Latam Fórmula 2000, Formula Renault 1.6 NEC, and Pacific F2000.
The following year in 2014, he traveled to France to compete in the French F4 Championship. This was his first experience racing in Europe, and it taught him how to compete against drivers from many different countries.
Moving to France as a teenager required courage and commitment. He was away from his family and had to adapt to a completely new culture while also focusing on his racing development.
Pro Mazda and Indy Lights Years
In 2015, Pato O’Ward made his debut in the Pro Mazda Championship with Team Pelfrey. This series was part of the Road to Indy ladder system, which helps young drivers work their way up to IndyCar.
He finished sixth overall in his first Pro Mazda season, which was respectable for a rookie. He returned to the series in 2016 with the same team and improved significantly, ending the season as the championship runner-up.
After his strong 2016 season, he had a choice to make about his career path. Instead of immediately moving up to Indy Lights, he decided to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2017.
This decision proved successful. Racing for Performance Tech Motorsports in the PC (Prototype Challenge) class, he won both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2017. At just 17 years old, he became the youngest driver ever to win both of these famous endurance races.
He also won the 2017 Prototype Challenge drivers’ championship and helped his team win the North American Endurance Cup. These achievements showed he could succeed in different types of racing, not just open-wheel single-seaters.
In 2018, Pato O’Ward returned to the Road to Indy system and joined Andretti Autosport to compete in the Indy Lights championship. This season would change everything for him.
Winning the 2018 Indy Lights Championship
The 2018 Indy Lights season was when Pato O’Ward announced himself as a future star. He dominated the championship by winning nine of the seventeen races against strong competition.
His main rival was teammate Colton Herta, who would also go on to become a successful IndyCar driver. The two young drivers pushed each other throughout the season, but Pato eventually won the championship at the penultimate race in Portland.
He was also named Rookie of the Year for his outstanding first season in the series. Winning the Indy Lights championship came with scholarship funding that helped him move up to IndyCar.
Just two weeks after clinching the 2018 Indy Lights title, he made his IndyCar Series debut at Sonoma Raceway in a second Harding Racing entry. He qualified fifth and finished ninth in his first race, which tied him with David Martínez for the best finish on debut by a Mexican driver in American open-wheel racing.
Early IndyCar Career and Challenges
For 2019, Pato O’Ward was scheduled to move up to the IndyCar Series full-time with Harding Steinbrenner Racing. However, sponsorship problems led to him being released from the team on February 11, 2019, before the season even started.
This was a difficult moment in his career. After winning the Indy Lights championship and proving himself ready for IndyCar, suddenly he had no ride and no clear path forward.
On March 7, 2019, he joined Carlin on a part-time deal that saw him drive in only thirteen races that season. While racing with Carlin, something surprising happened: he joined the Red Bull Junior Team in May 2019.
Red Bull wanted to develop him for Formula 1, so they pulled him out of IndyCar mid-season and sent him to compete in Formula 2 and Super Formula in Europe and Japan. The goal was to earn enough points for an FIA Super License to race in F1.
However, his results in these European series were disappointing. Red Bull released him from the junior program before the end of 2019, ending his immediate Formula 1 dreams.
Looking back, Pato has said this might have been “a blessing in disguise” because it allowed him to focus fully on IndyCar, where he has found great success.
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Joining Arrow McLaren and Finding Success
On October 30, 2019, Arrow McLaren SP announced that Pato O’Ward had signed with them for the 2020 season. This partnership would become one of the most successful in modern IndyCar.
According to his official McLaren profile, he joined the newly restructured team alongside Oliver Askew as they began building their program.
His first season with Arrow McLaren in 2020 was strong. He secured his first IndyCar podium finish with second place at the second Road America race. He finished sixth in his first Indianapolis 500, earning Rookie of the Year honors at the famous race.
He ended the 2020 season with a second-place finish at St. Petersburg and finished fourth in the overall championship standings. This performance proved he was ready to compete for wins.
First IndyCar Victory and 2021 Season
The 2021 season was Pato O’Ward’s breakthrough year. He earned his second career pole position at the season opener at Barber Motorsports Park, though he could not convert it into a win.
His first IndyCar victory finally came at Texas Motor Speedway in May 2021. After finishing third in the first race of the weekend, he won the second race the following day.
He became the first Mexican driver to win an IndyCar race since Adrián Fernández won at Fontana in 2004. He was also the first Chevrolet driver not from Team Penske to win a race since 2016.
After taking his first win, he never dropped lower than third in the championship standings for the rest of the season. He consistently challenged Alex Palou and Josef Newgarden while competing against six-time champion Scott Dixon.
His second win of the season came at Detroit, which was his first victory on a street course. He took the championship lead for the first time after finishing second at Gateway.
At the season finale at Long Beach, he was one of three drivers mathematically in contention for the series title. However, a controversial qualifying session saw him start eighth, and he was taken out early in the race by Ed Jones, ending his championship hopes. He finished third in the final standings.
Despite not winning the championship, he secured the A.J. Foyt Cup as the highest-scoring driver on oval courses in 2021, proving his versatility across different track types.
2022-2023 Seasons and Indianapolis 500 Heartbreak
The 2022 season brought both triumph and heartbreak. Pato O’Ward won two races that year, but what people remember most is how close he came to winning the Indianapolis 500.
According to reports from Indycar, he led during the final stages of the 2022 Indy 500 and battled Josef Newgarden in an intense finish. On the final lap, Newgarden passed him to win, leaving Pato with a painful second-place finish.
The 2023 season saw no victories for Pato, but he achieved a career-high number of podium finishes. He finished fourth in the championship standings despite not winning a race, showing his consistency throughout the season.
At the 2023 Indianapolis 500, he started in his best position yet (fifth) but crashed while battling Marcus Ericsson for second place. The Indy 500 was becoming his biggest challenge.
Recent Success and 2024-2025 Seasons
The 2024 season brought both joy and more Indianapolis 500 disappointment. He secured three wins during the season, starting with a victory at St. Petersburg after Josef Newgarden was penalized for push-to-pass violations.
At Mid-Ohio, he claimed victory and became the first driver to win in IndyCar’s hybrid powertrain era, which began that season. This showed his ability to adapt to new technology.
Once again, the Indianapolis 500 provided heartbreak. In 2024, he led on the final lap and appeared poised to win. However, Newgarden used the draft to pass him in the final corners, leaving Pato with his second runner-up finish at the Brickyard.
The 2025 season was his best yet. According to his official IndyCar profile, he finished second in the championship standings with six podiums and wins at Iowa and Toronto. This marked his career-best finish in the standings.
As he enters the 2026 season, he remains one of the top contenders for the championship and continues chasing that elusive first Indianapolis 500 victory.
McLaren Formula 1 Connection
Beyond IndyCar, Pato O’Ward is signed to the McLaren Driver Development Programme and serves as a reserve driver for McLaren’s Formula 1 team.
He first tested a McLaren F1 car at the end of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi after earning the opportunity through his strong IndyCar performance. He completed 92 laps and finished fourth-fastest that day.
In October 2022, he participated in FP1 (first practice) at the Mexican Grand Prix, driving the McLaren F1 car in front of his home crowd. This was an emotional moment as he got to represent Mexico at their home Formula 1 race.
As of 2023, he became eligible for an FIA Super License, which means he technically could race in Formula 1 if McLaren decided to promote him. However, McLaren has indicated he would need to win the IndyCar championship first before they would seriously consider moving him to F1.
His McLaren F1 reserve role keeps his name in global motorsport conversations and maintains the possibility of an F1 future, even though his primary focus remains on winning in IndyCar.
Personal Life and Relationships
Pato O’Ward keeps most of his personal life private and does not share many details about his romantic relationships. As of early 2026, he is not married and has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend.
There have been some social media reports and speculation about his relationship status, but he chooses not to discuss this publicly. He appears to prefer keeping attention focused on his racing career rather than his personal life.
His closest family relationship is with his sister Elba, who frequently attends his races. When she got married in December 2023, Pato was part of the wedding and warmly welcomed his new brother-in-law Brett Kimbro into the family.
He maintains strong connections with his parents, Patricio and Elba Junco, who continue to support his career. His mother Elba Junco plays an important role in his life and is known for her dedication and encouragement.
Off the track, Pato enjoys boxing and weight training to stay in shape for racing. According to his IndyCar profile, he describes himself as a “foodie” who particularly enjoys chilaquiles (a traditional Mexican breakfast dish) and sushi.
Salary and Net Worth
Pato O’Ward’s salary became public knowledge in 2024 when it was revealed in court documents related to McLaren’s lawsuit against Alex Palou. According to NBC Sports, his contract details were included in legal filings.
The court documents showed that Arrow McLaren gave him a contract extension that pays him $4 million in 2026 and $4.2 million in 2027. This puts him among the highest-paid drivers in IndyCar.
His total contract package over multiple years equals $10.2 million, making him one of the top earners in the series. However, Pato himself has said he believes other top drivers like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, and Alex Palou earn similar or higher amounts.
Various sources estimate his net worth to be between $5 million and $10 million, though exact figures are difficult to confirm. His wealth comes from his IndyCar salary, race bonuses, endorsements, sponsorships, and his McLaren F1 reserve driver role.
It is important to remember that these net worth estimates are approximations based on publicly available information and should not be considered exact confirmed figures.
Physical Appearance and Style
Pato O’Ward stands approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighs around 150 pounds (68 kilograms). He maintains an athletic build necessary for the physical demands of IndyCar racing.
He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. His appearance is youthful and energetic, which matches his personality both on and off the track.
His racing helmet design features the Mexican flag colors prominently, showing pride in his heritage. He frequently wears clothing and accessories that reference Mexico, keeping his cultural identity visible.
Off the track, his style is casual and modern, often wearing t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers. He does not dress in an overly formal way, preferring comfort and practicality.
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