McLaren preparing 2021 F1 car test programme for rookies

The Woking-based team has long considered O’Ward a potential candidate to make the switch from American racing to F1 in the long term.

However, opportunities for him to drive F1 machinery have previously been quite limited, with his only run so far being in last year’s Abu Dhabi rookie test.

But with F1’s rules making it mandatory for teams to run rookies in at least two Friday practice sessions this year, O’Ward is likely to get some action on grand prix weekends in…