New Red Bull junior O'Ward could test for Toro Rosso

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IndyCar racer Patricio O'Ward who was recently signed up to Red Bull's junior team is apparently in the running for a reserve role this year with Scuderia Toro Rosso.

The highly rated 20-year-old Mexican, who won the Indy Lights title in 2018, is competing this season in a 13-race IndyCar program with Carlin that will include the Indy 500, but O'Ward would certainly welcome the opportunity to test in Formula 1.

On Friday in Barcelona, Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost insisted the Faenza-base squad had not yet made any plans to offer O'Ward a test outing, but if such an opportunity should come about O'Ward would seize it with both hands.

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"It’s a huge opportunity for my career,” O’Ward told RACER.

"There’s honestly nothing concrete yet as to what my future may look like, but obviously we’re talking about two of the best series in the world – Formula 1 and I’m in IndyCar right now.

"I’m really privileged to be in the position that I’m in, and I’m just looking forward to what the pieces fall into in the future.

"Like I said, right now there’s nothing concrete so I can’t say ‘I’m leaving’ and I can’t say ‘I’m staying’ because I’d be lying both ways," added the young Mexican.

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"But I just want to continue doing a really good job in IndyCar; I want to get the results I feel like I deserve.

"We’ve been putting in a lot of hard work — the Carlin boys have been really, really working hard and trying to finesse everything that we’ve been missing a little bit."

O'Ward will sit tight until he gets clarity on his involvement with Red Bull.

"I’m obviously open to helping them in any way I can," he said.

"We’ll just have to see how it pans out. As of right now I have all the IndyCar stuff and I’m just waiting to see if I’m going to have some additions to my racing calendar."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.