Antonio Perez has some advice for McLaren (Image: Getty)
Antonio Perez Garibay, father of former driver Sergio, believes should help Pato O’Ward make it onto the F1 grid despite having a strong line-up of and .
The reigning Constructors’ champions are in a golden position moving forward. Both Norris and Piastri are tied to long-term contracts, and with title-winning machinery underneath them, they have no reason to consider offers from rivals , , and .
Even better for and Andrea Stella is that in O’Ward, they have one of the most exciting talents in the F1 paddock under the racing umbrella. The 25-year-old is a seven-time IndyCar race winner and finished runner-up to Josef Newgarden in the 2024 Indianapolis 500.
According to Perez Snr, ’s senior leadership should do everything possible to help the Monterrey-born star enter F1. “To enter Formula One is very difficult, but to be runner-up in the world championship is almost impossible,” he told .
“We are going to work for a Mexican to come back to Formula One, a Latin American. What is happening today, with [Franco] Colapinto, with Checo, we have a little card there, we need to bring more cards. Hopefully, soon we can have a Pato O’Ward or other young Mexicans in Formula One. I think should open the door for him.”
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Pato O’Ward has impressed during testing runs for McLaren (Image: Getty)
Perez Snr continued: “What about ? It’s the same as or , they have two very good tigers in their pen. I think that Norris and Piastri are great drivers, very young. They have to open the door for Pato.”
While O’Ward is one of the most impressive talents not currently on the F1 grid, it will be hard for Stella and Brown to find room for the IndyCar starlet in the near future. However, the 25-year-old can take some comfort from Gabriel Bortoleto’s journey.
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Two, turning heads in the motorsport world. Sauber came calling, offering a race seat for 2025, and Stella opted not to stand in the 21-year-old’s way, releasing him from the junior team.
O’Ward may be in contention for a seat at Cadillac when they join the sport in 2026. Fellow IndyCar icon Colton Herta is the red-hot favourite to land one of the two spots in the team, and ’s test and reserve driver may be an appealing team-mate, should he continue to impress the paddock in 2025.