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IndyCar sensation Pato O’Ward has been busy testing this year’s McLaren MCL60 Formula 1 car at the Abu Dhabi young driver test, and was recently confirmed as the team’s reserve driver for the 2024 season. All of this attention seems to have a good few perks, such as this insane opportunity to get behind the wheel of Lewis Hamilton’s championship-winning McLaren MP4-23.
Video: Pato O’Ward sends it in Hamilton’s McLaren F1 car
The venue was Sonoma Raceway for the 2023 Velocity Invitational event, a weekend packed with memorable motorsport moments, not least Tony Kanaan’s emotional drive in Ayrton Senna’s 1991 McLaren MP4/6.
Here though, we have some stunning helmet cam footage of Pato O’Ward absolutely sending it in Hamilton’s 2008 car. Powered by a 2.4-litre Mercedes V8, producing in the region of 810PS (596kW). This car might be 15 years old, but Pato’s not taking it easy.
Pushing it all the way to that 19,000rpm redline, he carried some incredible speed through Sonoma’s flowing infield and absolutely flew past the pits. We have no doubt this must be one hell of an experience – his reaction afterwards confirms that – in a car that actually might be even better now than it was then thanks to those sticky-looking slick tyres.
The day may come when we see O’Ward lining up on the F1 grid for real, but for now, this footage of him looking right at home in a McLaren cockpit is a good representation of what we can expect should his path lead him to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Group C glory onboard at Le Mans Classic
