After an amazing season in IndyCar fighting for the title, Pato finished 3rd in the drivers' championship scoring 5 podiums making it his best season yet.

At the start of the 2021 IndyCar season McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, told O'Ward he would get an F1 test if he wins a race and he did it twice (Texas and Detroit).

O'Ward was asked about this opportunity and his experience driving the MCL35 M:

"The opportunity is rare, once in a lifetime, but man, wow! These cars are ridiculous." 

"I was expecting crazy and insane. This is crazy and insane times 10.”

"What these cars are capable of...I don't know how. I thought the IndyCar was fast. It was just crazy man. I don't know what else to say.”

"Just the first lap, as soon as I went out, I felt the power, the grip, the braking. The thing does whatever you want it to do. What a great experience, and what a car!"

The Mexican driver was fastest in the morning session on Day 1, putting a time of 1:25.260.

Following his test session, O’Ward was asked by Autosport.com about the probability of him coming to Formula 1 and he said he will do everything to make it happen.

“To be fairly honest, arguably there’s a maximum of two more years for me to be able to come into the F1 scene.”

“There’s not much more time.”

“I will do everything I can to make it happen, because it is the top of the top, and my dream and my life, right now, it all started with one dream, and that dream was to make it to Formula 1.”

“That dream ambled out to different series, endurance racing and IndyCar racing. But it all started with that one dream. And I’d be lying if I said I don’t want it, because I do.”

In 2017 and 2018 Pato raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring winning both in his class and being the youngest driver to do it.

“I’m going to do absolutely everything I can, and I’m going to push to my absolute maximum to make sure that I leave nothing on the table.”

“Because you’ve got to take it. You’ve got to try, because if I don’t, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

O'Ward also talked about the differences driving an F1 car saying:

"It just feels so good, the change of direction, the downforce, the stopping power.”

"It's unlike anything. Nothing I've driven comes close to this, not even a hint of close. It is unbelievable."

"My neck is destroyed."

"My last few laps, I was looking down with my eyes up trying to see where I was going at 180mph."

For the moment, he will continue racing for Arrow McLaren SP in IndyCar in 2022.

“I’ll go back to Indy, start preparing, start the season, and it’s time to win some races.”

“Time to challenge for another championship, and let’s see if we’ve made our car faster.”

“We want to challenge for another title, and we want to have another go at trying to win the 500.”