Red Bull add O'Ward to Junior Driver Programme
F1 News
- Bobby Vincent
Red Bull Racing have confirmed the signing of IndyCar driver Patricio O'Ward to its Junior Driver Programme.
With 10 drivers already signed, Red Bull have announced the signing of young Mexican driver O'Ward to its roster. He made his debut in the final round of last year's IndyCar campaign with Harding Racing after winning the Indy Lights Championship.
O'Ward has been a very promising driver with Carlin, but the results haven't gone his way yet. He's 17th in the championship standings with a season-best result of eighth-place at Circuit of the Americas.
The Mexican youngster does not have enough points together to receive an F1 Superlicence straight away. O'Ward will race in the IndyCar Grand Prix this weekend and he is set to compete in the Indy 500 later this month.
"This is a great opportunity for me, naturally every racing driver has their eye on F1 and would give anything to be world champion so to join the Red Bull Junior Team that has provided that F1 possibility to so many drivers is fantastic for me," O'Ward said.
"I'm thrilled to be contesting the IndyCar series with Carlin, apart from the Indianapolis 500 we are prioritising the road course so Indy is the only oval I am doing. We've already had success especially considering the fact that I am a rookie and Carlin are in their second IndyCar season.
"You can't get away from the fact that we don't have the 25 years of experience that the major established teams have so any time you are running in the top 10 and giving them a hard time you are doing a good job.
"We plan to carry on doing that starting with this weekend at Indy. It's the road course and it's a track I go well at, I've had success there so I am very much looking forward to it."