O’Ward taken ill after FP1 with McLaren in Mexico City

It was meant to be a celebratory homecoming for Pato O’Ward – a rare chance for Mexico’s IndyCar star to take the wheel of a Formula 1 car on home soil.

But the occasion took an unexpected turn after the McLaren driver was taken ill with food poisoning shortly after completing his FP1 session in Mexico City.

The 26-year-old completed 30 laps during his stint in Lando Norris’s MCL39 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, finishing 13th on the timesheets.

While his pace appeared unaffected on track, O’Ward’s condition deteriorated after the session, requiring medical attention for severe dehydration and stomach pain.

Treatment at the Circuit’s Medical Centre

O’Ward was taken to the circuit’s medical facility, where he was treated with IV fluids and medication, and his heart rate was monitored as a precaution. The Mexican did not attend any scheduled media briefings or promotional activities following FP1, instead focusing on recovery.

McLaren has not released an update on his health beyond a short statement in its official Friday report, which included comments from O’Ward issued before his condition worsened.

“Being back on track in Mexico is so special to me,” he said. “All week, the fans have been passionate and loud, making me feel right at home again. I want to thank the team for putting me in the seat.

“We ran through the programme we had planned for the day successfully, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to support Lando and Oscar on their championship runs with time in the car today. I’m excited to see the team finish up the weekend strong.”

Team Support and Next Steps

Team principal Andrea Stella praised O’Ward’s contribution, noting his professional approach despite the difficult circumstances.

“Thank you to Pato who did a good job in place of Lando in FP1,” Stella said. “He provided a valuable contribution to our data collection, which is appreciated by the team.”

Before resuming his duties for FP2 and beyond, Norris had observed McLaren’s opening session from the pitwall, gathering what limited insight he could from the team’s data.

“There was no onboard this morning, so there wasn’t a lot to look at,” Norris explained.

“Of course, you look at the data and things, but you just try and get the general understanding of the grip, the feeling of the car, things like that. But there’s only so much you can really take from just looking at a screen.”

O’Ward’s brief outing still resonated with local fans who packed the grandstands to cheer on their home hero in McLaren’s papaya machine.

For the Monterrey-born racer, the experience carried deep personal meaning – even if illness cut the celebration short.

Read also: McLaren drivers chasing consistency amid balance woes in Mexico

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook