“I’m left wanting more but I fulfilled my dream”: Patricio O’Ward,

Mexico City. The Mexico City Grand Prix is ​​Sergio Pérez’s party. Who can argue? But this year he had an additional guest who raised the expectations of the crowd, which overflows the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez every year, with the presence of another Mexican, Patricio O’Ward, as a driver in free practice for McLaren, there was greater interest among the public .

Since hours before, the contingents of fans wearing Red Bull clothing and Czech Pérez, as dominant signs, walked quickly to get to free practice where the Mexican O’Ward would be in the car driven by Lando Norris. Two Mexicans on the same circuit is not common.

If anyone could play that role as a practice driver in the Mexico City Grand Prix, it was Pato O’Ward. He knows the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez well, where he achieved three podiums when he competed in Formula 4.

The other Mexican, Pato O’Ward, as a driver in free practice for McLaren, finished thirteenth. Photo Victor Camacho

O’Ward already knew how cars behave in general at this altitude in Mexico City, where the vehicles have less resistance than what he said, “a slippery track where the engines struggle with the temperature.” In addition, I would test a new floor on Norris’ car that needed to be tested on this track where the cars have less aerodynamic resistance due to traveling at almost 2,300 meters above sea level.

And Pato fulfilled his mission as a test pilot. He was close to the fastest before the first red flag appeared after just five minutes.

Twenty minutes later there was a heavy crash when Alex Albon (Williams) hit the left front of Bearman’s Ferrari and ended up crashing into the wall.

“I’m left wanting more, but I fulfilled my dream; It’s difficult when the team’s two drivers are doing things well. The world of F1 moves in very strange ways and the doors that one thought would open never do or suddenly an unimaginable opportunity presents itself,” said the man from Monterrey. The fans were as enraged with Pato as they usually are with Checo, some were even more aware of the McLaren’s laps.

“In some laps I could see people standing and holding flags, but there were so many calls and being aware of so many details that I couldn’t enjoy the atmosphere.” Shortly afterward he briefly interacted with the public who went crazy with the pilot’s proximity. O’Ward left with the satisfaction of someone who fulfilled the assignment: to test changes in the car and its response on the track, “without risking something happening, that’s why you can’t go for a fast lap, but only obtain information.” ”.

At the end of the first free practice, George Russell (Mercedes) was the fastest with 1:17.998, followed by Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Yuki Tsunoda (RB) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull), in that order. The Mexicans Czech Pérez (Red Bull) and Pato O’Ward finished in 10th and 13th, respectively.

In the second session, Russell suffered an accident and limped off to the medical check-up with no serious injury reported. There, Sainz dominated with 1:17.699 and Checo Pérez finished in ninth place, 693 thousandths behind the fastest.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to watch both Mexicans compete. Photo Victor Camacho