IndyCar driver gives up on F1 dream due to 2026 regulations

O’Ward is also McLaren's F1 test driver, and since 2022, he has appeared in five Free Practice 1 sessions as the team’s young driver.

While Colton Herta is trying to make his F1 dream a reality with Cadillac, even competing in Formula 2 this year, O’Ward is no longer interested in Formula 1.

Speaking to FOX Deportes, he explained that F1 has made mistakes and racing is now artificial.

He continued by comparing the experience to Mario Kart, similarly to how Max Verstappen previously did. O'Ward continued: "You don’t want to be flipping a switch to say, 'Oh, I'm going to press it to pass him artificially.' It's not Mario Kart; we’re racing here. Honestly, I have zero desire to be part of that."

Therefore, he believes he is in the right place right now. "I feel that right now, today, this is the best series for a driver who wants to race, here, in IndyCar... Formula 1 right now is an artificial show, and honestly, I have zero desire for it; it doesn't grab my attention."

O'Ward is currently 6th in the IndyCar standings four rounds into the season.