Formula 1: 4 possible replacements for Daniel Ricciardo

4. Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren SP)

Currently upheld as one of the most promising young talents in IndyCar, Pato O’Ward is seemingly the next genuine talent coming out of a sparse McLaren young driver program.

Before entering only his third season in the American open-wheel series, O’Ward participated in Formula 1’s end-of-season testing at Yas Marina Circuit in December, collecting data on the new 18-inch wheels in past-generation machinery.

Although Zak Brown has plentiful options throughout the paddock, his first instinct could very well be to keep it inside the walls of McLaren and take the chance to evaluate the team’s young talent.

Another contributing factor could be his absence from IndyCar, which are holding an event the same weekend as the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But despite the clashing schedules, Brown likely wouldn’t consider the dilemma, as the weekend’s event is an oval race at Texas Motor Speedway. With O’Ward having won the IndyCar oval track discipline championship in 2021 and having a clear focus on a future in Formula 1, it won’t be considered a major loss to the Arrow McLaren SP team if their lead man swapped an oval race for his first crack at Formula 1.