IndyCar News: F1 car a rocket ship vs. IndyCar

Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward got to spend a couple of days in Abu Dhabi recently driving the latest McLaren F1 car, and has first-hand knowledge of just how much better and F1 car is vs. the 13-year-old IndyCar relics.

— by Mark Cipolloni–

The McLaren tester offered his thoughts on the superior qualities the F1 machinery offers over his usual IndyCar as he spoke to media in Abu Dhabi.

Pato O_Ward in the 13-year-old IndyCar relic at the 2023 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio – Photo By_ James Black/Penske Entertainment

“The Formula 1 car is a rocket,” he said, when asked to compare the machines.

“It’s a rocket ship compared to the IndyCar.

“The way it turns, the way it stops, the way it accelerates. The gearbox works very, very well, just everything about the Formula 1 car is just on a different planet, to be honest.

“There’s no other way to describe it, what the car is capable of at high speed. It really is just a rocket on wheels.”

As for whether there is anywhere the IndyCar is a more competent machine, O’Ward was resolute.

“On a road course? Nowhere,” he said.

“The F1 brakes better, turns better, it accelerates faster. The gearbox is a lot more efficient.

“The IndyCar is definitely a lot more physical on the arms, but the F1 takes the cake on the neck. But the F1 is a way more capable car in every single way.”