Pato O’Ward taken ill after debut F1 session with McLaren in Mexico

The 26-year-old Mexican, who replaced Lando Norris for the opening practice session, and was among the nine rookies fielded in FP1, completed 30 laps and finished 13th fastest before becoming unwell. O’Ward did not attend his post-session media duties or sponsor appearances and was instead escorted to the circuit’s medical facility for evaluation.

According to reports from the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, O’Ward was taken for medical checks almost immediately after stepping out of the McLaren car. He was examined by doctors and later released after observation, returning to the McLaren garage shortly afterward.

McLaren has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the cause of O’Ward’s illness, and it remains unclear whether it was linked to the heat, physical strain, or another factor. The outing marked a significant milestone for O’Ward, who made his official Formula 1 debut after several years as part of McLaren’s IndyCar program.

Red Bull Racing rookie Arvid Lindblad was summoned to the stewards following an incident involving Pato O'Ward. The British rookie impeded the Mexican at Turn 11 during his push lap in his first practice session.

Lindblad's incident was noted by the stewards; however, they handed him only a reprimand after reviewing the incident between the pair. The 18-year-old, who stood in for Max Verstappen, ended the FP1 session with the sixth-fastest time on the board.

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