- O’Ward compares Cadillac links to Alonso–Swift dating rumours
- Says there’s no truth to talk of 2026 Formula 1 move
- Believes Sergio Pérez will return to F1 and remain a Mexican icon
Pato O’Ward has shut down speculation linking him to a future Formula 1 seat with Cadillac, comparing the rumour to one of the internet’s more bizarre celebrity pairings.
“The rumours about me going to Cadillac were like the rumours about Fernando Alonso hanging out with Taylor Swift,” O’Ward joked in an interview with ESPN MX.
The Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver has often been connected to F1 opportunities, and with General Motors–backed Cadillac set to join the F1 grid in 2026, his name resurfaced in speculation. But O’Ward insists there’s no substance behind the talk, despite his strong form this season.
He’s currently second in the IndyCar standings and claimed his second win of the season in Toronto last weekend. Cadillac, meanwhile, has not confirmed its driver plans for 2026, though team boss Graeme Lowdon recently mentioned several names — including Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Pérez — as part of their early considerations.
As a McLaren F1 reserve, O’Ward remains on the periphery of the Formula 1 world. But when asked about Pérez’s future, he was more serious, confident the veteran Mexican will make a comeback.
“I think his departure from Formula 1 wasn’t what he wanted,” O’Ward said. “If he chooses not to return, he’ll still be an idol. If he chooses to return, he’ll still be an idol. I don’t think much changes there. But I already saw him training and he wouldn’t be training if he wasn’t coming back.”
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