Perez: O'Ward can 'race against the very best in the world'

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Sergio Perez reckons Pato O'Ward has the talent to race with the best drivers in the world as he praised his countryman for his IndyCar win last weekend in Detroit.

O'Ward scorched to his first victory in the US series at the Texas Motor Speedway last month, an achievement that earned him a Formula 1 test with McLaren in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.

But the Arrow McLaren SP driver's win at Belle Isle propelled him to the top of the championship standings, and it also capped off a productive week for Mexico that had kicked off with Perez's win in Baku.

Read also: IndyCar's Pato O'Ward handed F1 test with McLaren

"I think it was great," said the Red Bull driver. "In two weekends, we got a win in Formula 1 and then a win in IndyCar, so that’s great for our country.

"To be honest, I think Pato is a great talent. It’s just a matter of how different IndyCar is to Formula 1, and how quickly he can adapt to Formula 1.

"Certainly, I think he has the talent to race against the very best drivers in the world."

Ironically, O'Ward was recruited by Red Bull and briefly added to its roster of junior drivers in 2019, racing twice in the FIA Formula 2 Championship and in three rounds of the Japanese Super Formula series before he was dropped by the energy drink company.

O'Ward joined Arrow McLaren SP in IndyCar in 2020 and finished fourth in the championship, snatching four podiums along the way.

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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.