Indy 500 star Pato O'Ward's salary was announced in court after '£22m F1 seat' remark

IndyCar standout had the details of his multi-million pound earnings made public after they appeared in legal filings, shortly after he criticised high entry costs. The 26-year-old phenom drives for Arrow McLaren, the American arm of the UK-based motorsport outfit, where he has competed since 2020.

In addition to his commitments, O'Ward is also part of McLaren F1's Driver Development Program and was listed as a reserve driver for the 2024 campaign. Although the team did not officially release his earnings, documentation from a lawsuit involving McLaren Racing and Spanish driver Alex Palou, along with his company Alpha Racing USA LLC, disclosed the financial terms of O'Ward's agreement.

According to the records, O'Ward's deal totals $10.2m (£7.6m), with payouts of $4m (£3m) in 2026 and $4.2m (£3.1) in 2027, following a 2024 contract renewal. He was also granted an additional "$2m (£1.5m) uplift" in his contract, which is likely tied to his responsibilities as McLaren F1's backup driver for both 2024 and 2025.

"This is a big day for the team and for Pato. It's been great to see Pato and the team grow together," said Arrow McLaren Team Principal Gavin Ward. "We're thrilled to continue racing with him, and I look forward to showing the racing world what we can achieve as a group.

"Having this done and dusted before the start of the season means the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew can go into the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg free from distraction and with one goal in mind: to execute each race weekend to the fullest of our potential."

There remains a path for O'Ward to further establish himself in F1, as he's scheduled to participate in a practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix later this year - his first since the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, the talented driver has not held back in criticising the financial hurdles that keep many out of F1. The Monterrey-born driver denounced the sport's 'pay-to-play' model with the remark: "I don't have $30m (£22m) to pay for an F1 seat."

He expressed frustration over how limited funding can block talented drivers, saying: "It's just sad because talent alone doesn't guarantee you a shot."

O'Ward is currently ranked second behind Palou in the 2025 IndyCar Series standings and is preparing to compete in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 this Sunday.