McLaren driver breaks silence on Cadillac F1 contract and Sergio Perez rumour

Andretti-Cadillac’s bid to join the 2026 grid has triggered rampant driver speculation, and McLaren IndyCar star Pato O’Ward found himself thrust into the conversation alongside compatriot Sergio Perez.



The 25-year-old attended Miami’s launch of Cadillac’s livery, then watched social media link his name to one of two vacant seats.



O’Ward Admits He Fanned the Flames



Cornered by paddock photographer Kym Illman, the smiling Mexican owned up to trolling the rumour mill:



“Everyone kept saying Cadillac! You and Checo,” O’Ward said.







“And I was like, you know what, I’m going to add some logs to the fire, and I’m going to poke them.”



He added with disarming honesty: “That was just me having fun with it, there’s been no contact at all. No contact.”



Why a Mexican F1 Team Would Matter



Despite denying talks, O’Ward warmed to the prospect of an all-Mexican lineup under General Motors:



“I do think it would be really cool to have a full on Mexican team, two full time Mexican drivers in a Formula 1 team that would be historic for the country.



“I mean the country would fall. But you never know if it becomes true.”



The emotional appeal underscores Mexico’s swelling motorsport audience, already galvanized by Perez’s success and the carnival atmosphere at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez each October.



Andretti’s Options Still Wide Open



Mario Andretti confirmed earlier this year that Cadillac holds interest in Perez, but insiders suggest as many as three other candidates—including reserve driver Mick Schumacher—remain on the shortlist.



With FIA approval still pending for the outfit’s 2026 debut, driver negotiations are unofficial and fluid. O’Ward’s denial narrows the field but also highlights the team’s marketing challenge: securing talent that resonates in North American and Latin American markets while delivering immediate on-track credibility.



IndyCar Focus for Now



O’Ward sits third in the IndyCar standings and remains McLaren’s top U.S. asset, especially with its F1 arm locked into the Oscar Piastri/Lando Norris pairing.




Franco #Colapinto joining Alpine shakes up #Formula1 grid https://t.co/KALMTuZ9iL — Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 9, 2025




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The Mexican’s immediate target is a maiden series title, and Zak Brown has repeatedly stressed that any F1 crossover must align with both commercial goals and competitive readiness—conditions unlikely to materialize before 2027 at the earliest.



Verdict



For now, O’Ward’s Cadillac prospects remain a playful rumor he helped create. Yet his candid comments—and the sheer excitement of a Mexican-branded team—ensure the story won’t die soon.



Whether he eventually swaps IndyCar ovals for F1’s global stage may depend less on public buzz and more on Andretti’s ability to clear regulatory hurdles and assemble a driver line-up that blends star power with experience.
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