©McLaren
IndyCar star Pato O'Ward enjoyed his F1 baptism of fire earlier this week in Abu Dhabi, courtesy of a gift from McLaren boss Zak Brown.
The latter had committed to handing an F1 test to the Arrow McLaren SP charger as a reward for O'Ward winning his first IndyCar race this year.
The 22-year-old Mexican was ecstatic after raking up 92 laps at the wheel of the Woking-based outfit's Mercedes-powered MCL35M, calling his run "insane" and leaving him yearning for more.
"I didn’t want [it] to end, to be honest with you," he said.
"It’s just unbelievable. It’s just amazing, what all us racing drivers want to feel is just go as fast as you can, brake as late as you can, you want to feel everything, and this car gives you that and more.
"Obviously I didn’t know the car so for me, this is like ‘Oh my god!’… These things bend the laws of physics, it’s just absurd, absurd what they’re able to do.
"Right now this is it. This is all that is planned right now but I told Zak, man, you’re going to spoil me, I’m going to be annoying you after that test!"
O'Ward knows his allegiance is currently with IndyCar, likely for the next two years. But thereafter, the Mexican ambitions to join Grand Prix racing's grid.
Check out the video hereunder of Pato's memorable F1 track day at Yas Marina with McLaren.
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