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via Reuters

via Reuters

Patricio O’Ward has secured a test with McLaren at the end of 2021 in Abu Dhabi. O’Ward is currently in his second year in IndyCar. He was previously a Red Bull junior academy driver, but he left in 2019. He finished 3rd in the standing in 2020 and was close to being the champion.

In 2021, he joined Arrows McLaren-SP. McLaren CEO Zak Brown had made a bet with the 21-year-old Mexican driver. If he gets the win with McLaren in the series, Brown would give him a chance to test the McLaren F1 car in Abu Dhabi.

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He’s going to get his test with McLaren F1 at the end of the year: Zak Brown

According to The Race, Patricio O’Ward is currently leading the IndyCar series and is the first 2-time winner of the 2021 season. Patricio won the Detroit race last weekend when he steamrolled the field.

“He’s going to get his test at the end of the year,” said Brown on O’Ward winning with McLaren in IndyCar.

via Reuters

Zak continued, “He is young, he’s 21, so let’s see where his career takes him. Right now, keep him laser-focused on IndyCar, he’s only leading the championship by a point, and historically IndyCar comes down to the last race with about three, four, or five drivers that can win so I want him to stay laser focus there.

“But I’m very impressed with him and let’s see how he gets on in the Abu Dhabi test and go from there”

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He very much reminds me of a young Juan Pablo Montoya: Zak Brown

Zak Brown is very impressed with Patricio O’Ward’s win at Detroit and compared him to former McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Juan Pablo was an IndyCar champion before entering F1.

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“That was an awesome drive, He’s a huge talent. I think he’s naturally gifted. He can hang the car out like saw Montoya do on ovals, which doesn’t seem to scare him. He very much reminds me of a young Juan Pablo Montoya,” said Brown.

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What do you think? Will O’Ward make his way to F1? Comment below to let us know.