McLaren driver Pato O’Ward provides update on his health after serious food poisoning derailed his trip to the F1 GP in Mexico

McLaren F1 reserve driver Pato O’Ward has provided an update on his health after suffering serious food poisoning ahead of his participation in the FP1 Mexican Grand Prix. The IndyCar driver, who races full-time for Arrow McLaren, had replaced Lando Norris in FP1 on Friday as part of the team’s use of the session to fulfill F1’s mandated rookie program.

O’Ward completed 30 laps during the session despite experiencing symptoms of food poisoning and finished 13th out of 20 drivers. The Mexican driver’s symptoms worsened after exiting the vehicle. The hour-long session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez took its toll and he was taken to the track’s medical center.

Pato O’Ward had severe diarrhea and was given intravenous fluids to combat dehydration and medication for stomach pain, while doctors monitored his heart rate. McLaren canceled its media appearances for the day.

On Saturday, qualifying day for the Mexican Grand Prix, O’Ward returned to the track and fulfilled his media duties. In a virtual interview with journalist Bob Pockrass, the local hero gave an update on his state of health, saying:

“I feel a lot better,” O’Ward said. “I don’t look like a ghost anymore.”

The 26-year-old reflected on the end of the test program with McLaren in FP1 and how that took precedence over his unexpected illness.

“There are always opportunities that you don’t want to pass up, so you do everything in your power to make sure you do a good job,” O’Ward added. “You finish your program. Obviously I wish I felt a little fresher, but overall I was happy that we were able to finish the program.”

Pato O’Ward responded to his fans via an X-post on Friday, expressing his gratitude for the messages of concern he received.

Pato O’Ward explains Oscar Piastri comparison after FP1 Mexican GP

There was a considerable difference in lap times between Oscar Piastri and 2025 IndyCar runner-up Pato O’Ward in FP1. The Australian driver finished fourth in FP1, while the Mexican driver was around nine-tenths slower in P13.

However, the two drivers were running different tire compounds – Piastri on mediums and O’Ward on hards, which accounted for some, if not all, of the difference. When Bob Pockrass asked O’Ward if he compared his lap times to those of other drivers, the IndyCar star replied:

“It’s quite difficult… like for example, yesterday Oscar was on a medium, I was on a hard. The focus is on all the tire compounds and stuff like that to get the maximum information, you know, whatever the team needs for P2, P3, etc.”

“Obviously I’m being compared to Oscar, the best comparison I could have had because obviously he has the same car,” O’Ward added. “But it’s obviously difficult when the tires are different. We both put on softs at the end, but yeah, most of the program is definitely different. You have to split it up and learn as much as you can.”

In qualifying for the Mexican GP on Saturday, Lando Norris took pole position with a powerful lap, while Oscar Piastri settled for a modest P8.