Driver says he's giving up on race seat in 'artificial' F1 after years of trying
A Formula 1 reserve driver has put his dreams of racing in the sport full-time on hold due to the new 2026 regulations.
Sections of the new regulations, which heavily promote battery harvesting and deployment, have come in for significant criticism from a number of drivers.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has even stated he is considering retiring from the sport, such is the lack of enjoyment he gets from driving the 2026 cars.
Fans are also less than happy about the 'super-clipping' phenomenon, which causes the cars to decelerate at the end of long straights once they have run out of battery to power the rear wheels.
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Dissent has emerged from outside the F1 inner circle, too, with IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward declaring that he is no longer focusing on racing in Formula 1 - at least for the time being.
O'Ward is McLaren's reserve driver and attends races when his IndyCar commitments allow, as well as piloting the car in occasional free practice sessions.
He was linked with a drive at the new Cadillac team for 2026 before they opted to sign Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, while a future full-time role at McLaren if Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri leave has never been ruled out.
But the Mexican has hit out at the new regulations, and says that the best racing series for him to be in is IndyCar.
"The hunger I had to get to Formula 1 wasn't for fame or money," he told FOX Deportes during IndyCar's Long Beach race weekend.
"It was because the cars were something impressive; driving those cars was something impressive.
"You don't want to be flipping a switch to say, 'Oh, I'm going to press it to pass him artificially'. It's not Mario Kart; we're racing here.
"Honestly, I have zero desire to be a part of that.
"I feel that, right now, today, this is the best series for a driver that wants to race, here, in IndyCar. Formula 1, right now, is an artificial show, and honestly, I have zero desire for it. It doesn't grab my attention."
While O'Ward is putting his ambitions on hold, fellow IndyCar star Colton Herta is very much attempting to get into F1.
Herta is racing in F2 this season in an attempt to earn the 40 Super Licence points required to compete in F1. He needs to finish at least sixth in the standings.
The American is also signed up as Cadillac's reserve driver, and is not competing in the #26 car in IndyCar this season.
Ryan Smart