Pato O’Ward believes that Arrow McLaren has turned a crucial corner in the 2025 IndyCar season, overcoming years of struggles at certain circuits that once seemed impossible to conquer. Speaking ahead of a pivotal race weekend, the Mexican star reflected on the team’s progress, crediting improved preparation, consistent execution, and a growing sense of belief for their recent performances.
“We’re finally breaking curses at certain circuits that have always been a very tough challenge for us,” O’Ward said. “It’s never been about a lack of speed or effort—it’s about putting all the pieces together when it counts. This year, we’ve been doing that more often, and it’s showing in the results.”
Historically, O’Ward and Arrow McLaren have faced frustrating weekends at tracks where setup demands and unpredictable conditions tested their limits. But 2025 has brought a newfound resilience. The team has combined sharper race strategy with stronger qualifying performances, putting themselves in prime positions to fight at the front.
O’Ward’s pole position start for the upcoming race—earned after teammate Christian Lundgaard’s grid penalty—comes as a visible sign of that progress. It also marks an opportunity to convert raw pace into a long-awaited win at a venue where the team has rarely contested for victory.
For O’Ward, consistency is now the target. He knows that a championship challenge demands more than individual flashes of brilliance; it requires strong points across every kind of track, from street circuits to superspeedways. “We’ve been competitive across a much wider range this year. That’s been the difference,” he explained. “It’s given us the confidence to turn difficult weekends into good ones.”
While hungry for more victories, O’Ward is clear that the long-term picture matters just as much. Every race, he says, is another step toward building a true title-contending machine. For fans, that means Arrow McLaren’s fight to break old patterns is fast becoming one of the most compelling narratives of the season.
