**McLaren F1 Reserve Driver Pato O’Ward Provides Health Update After Mexico GP FP1 Food Poisoning Incident**
McLaren F1 reserve driver Pato O’Ward has shared an update on his health following a bout of severe food poisoning that impacted his performance during the Mexico Grand Prix FP1 session. The Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver had stepped in for Lando Norris on Friday as part of McLaren’s approach to fulfilling the Formula 1 rookie program requirements.
Despite battling food poisoning symptoms, O’Ward managed to complete 30 laps in FP1, finishing 13th-fastest out of 20 drivers. However, his condition deteriorated after exiting the car. The hour-long session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez took a considerable toll, requiring O’Ward to be taken to the track’s medical center for treatment.
At the medical center, O’Ward was diagnosed with severe diarrhea and dehydration. He received IV fluids to rehydrate and medication to alleviate stomach pain, while doctors closely monitored his heart rate. Due to his condition, McLaren decided to cancel his scheduled media appearances for the day.
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**Recovery and Return**
On Saturday, qualifying day for the Mexico Grand Prix, O’Ward was back at the track and fulfilled all his media duties. In a virtual interview with reporter Bob Pockrass, the Mexican driver provided an encouraging health update:
“Feeling much better,” O’Ward said. “I don’t look like a ghost anymore.”
Reflecting on his FP1 outing, O’Ward emphasized how completing the rookie test program was his priority despite the illness.
“There’s always opportunities you don’t want to let go of, so you do everything in your power to make sure you do a good job,” he explained. “You get through your program. Obviously, I would’ve loved to feel a little bit more fresh, but all in all, I was happy we were able to get through the program.”
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**FP1 Lap Time Comparison to Oscar Piastri**
During FP1, a notable difference emerged between the lap times of Pato O’Ward and fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who is the 2025 IndyCar championship runner-up. Piastri put in the fourth-fastest time, while O’Ward was around nine-tenths slower, placing 13th.
However, a key factor was that the two were running on different tire compounds: Piastri used medium tires, while O’Ward was on the harder compound, which accounts for some, if not all, of the time gap.
When asked by Bob Pockrass if he compared his times with those of other drivers, O’Ward explained:
“It’s quite difficult. For example, yesterday Oscar was on a medium, I was on a hard. There’s a focus on all the tire compounds and stuff like that to get the maximum information out of, you know, whatever the team needs for P2, P3, etc. I obviously am compared to Oscar — the best comparison that I could have had because, obviously, he’s got the same car,” O’Ward said.
“But it’s obviously difficult when the tires are different. We both put softs on at the end, but yeah, most of the program really is different. You gotta split it up and learn as much as you can.”
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**Mexico GP Qualifying Results**
In qualifying for the Mexico Grand Prix on Saturday, Lando Norris secured pole position with an impressive lap time, while Oscar Piastri qualified P8. The varying circumstances and conditions showed the challenges faced by McLaren’s drivers over the weekend.
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Pato O’Ward’s commitment and resilience in overcoming illness to complete his rookie session highlight his professionalism and determination as he continues to pursue opportunities in Formula 1 alongside his IndyCar career.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/indycar/news-mclaren-driver-pato-o-ward-shares-health-update-severe-food-poisoning-derails-f1-mexico-gp-stint
