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Pato O'Ward will take over Lando Norris' McLaren MCL39 for the FP1 session at the Mexican Grand Prix race weekend. This will be the Mexican racer's fourth FP1 outing for McLaren.
O'Ward has been part of McLaren's IndyCar stable since 2020 and has had several appearances with an F1 car for the working-based squad. Because of his Mexican roots, he was confirmed earlier in the year to be handed the keys to the MCL39 for the FP1 session during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
Ecstatic with the chance, he had said back then (via McLaren):
"I’m excited to be jumping back in the car for FP1 at my home race in Mexico this year. The Mexico City fans were unbelievable last time out, and it was a great feeling being able to extract everything from the programme that the team had planned. I’m looking forward to going again this year, working with Zak, Andrea and the whole team."
However, it was not disclosed whose car would be given. A question, which is now answered as McLaren revealed that Norris would be benched for FP1 for the team's reserve driver to have a go around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
On the other hand, for the 2025 season, the requirement for teams to field FP1 outings for their rookie racers was doubled. This means that even after O'Ward's FP1 participation at the Mexican Grand Prix, the side would still have to field a rookie racer for the remaining season in an FP1 outing.
However, the last FP1 outing would take place on Oscar Piastri's side of the garage, as Norris' side of the garage would have already completed this requirement by the Mexican GP race weekend.
Lando Norris shifts focus towards Mexican Grand Prix
Lando Norris has grabbed points out of Oscar Piastri's lead in the last four racing weekends. He made an eight-point damage in his teammate's championship lead, closing it down to just 14 points, which might be pivotal by the business end of the season.
Reacting on his weekend in Austin, the British racer said:
"It was an interesting race today, and a good battle with Charles [Leclerc]. However, it took a little too long to get by and, as a result, we had to settle for second. It was tough, but the strategy was good, and it worked out well in the end. Full focus now switches to Mexico and doing the best job I can there."
While Lando Norris has made some inroads into Piastri's championship lead, the same can be said for Max Verstappen after he clinched three of the last four race weekends.
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