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Formula 1: IndyCar’s Patricio O’Ward joins Red Bull Junior Team

By Asher Fair

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 03: Dan Ticktum of Great Britain driving the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 during F1 testing in Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on April 03, 2019 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - APRIL 03: Dan Ticktum of Great Britain driving the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB15 during F1 testing in Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on April 03, 2019 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /
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IndyCar rookie Patricio O’Ward, who drives for Carlin, has his eyes on Formula 1 and has joined the Red Bull Junior Team.

Patricio O’Ward was slated to compete in IndyCar on a full-time basis this season as the driver of the #8 Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda after driving for Harding Racing in the 2018 season finale at Sonoma Raceway as the newly crowned Indy Lights champion.

But not even one month before the 2019 season began, O’Ward and Harding Steinbrenner Racing cut ties due to funding issues, leaving him without a ride. But a few weeks later, he signed with Carlin to drive the #31 Chevrolet in 13 of the season’s 17 races.

So far this season, O’Ward has competed in three of the four races that have been contested, and he is gearing up for a busy month of May, which is scheduled to begin for IndyCar this weekend with the IndyCar Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Saturday, May 11.

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Next weekend on both Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, O’Ward and the rest of the IndyCar field are set to attempt to qualify for the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Should O’Ward end up as one of the 33 successful qualifiers for this race, he would be slated to make his debut in the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” the following Sunday, May 26.

After finishing in ninth place in his IndyCar debut last season, O’Ward has recorded finishes of eighth, 16th and 12th so far this season. He sits in a 17th place tie in the championship standings, and he is tied with and/or ahead of six of the 22 drivers who have competed in all four of the races that have been contested so far in 2019.

But while IndyCar is still his primary focus at the moment, that has not stopped O’Ward from pursuing other opportunities, especially given the fact that he is not a full-time driver like he was supposed to be this season.

In fact, the 20-year-old Mexican has his eyes on Formula 1, and he has now taken a step in that direction and joined the Red Bull Junior Team. Here is what he had to say about this opportunity, according to Autosport.

"“This is a great opportunity for me. Naturally every racing driver has their eye on F1 and would give anything to be world champion so to join the Red Bull Junior Team that has provided that F1 possibility to so many drivers is fantastic for me. I’m thrilled to be contesting the IndyCar series with Carlin, apart from the Indianapolis 500 we are prioritizing the road course so Indy is the only oval I am doing.“I’m very proud to have been approached to be a member of the Red Bull Junior Team and thank Dr. [Helmut] Marko and the team at Red Bull for seeing my potential. My focus for the remainder of the season is absolutely delivering results in the NTT IndyCar Series with Carlin. We have a great package and a lot of potential together. It’s great to race in an environment where we completely support each other as a team.”"

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Several drivers have graduated from the Red Bull Junior Team and gone on to compete in Formula 1, including several who have gone on to drive for Red Bull Racing. Among the graduates to Red Bull Racing are four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat and current Red Bull Racing drivers Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly.