P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Pato O’Ward has relinquished that his championship are minimal and that Alex Palou has “pretty much won it already” in Portland.
Arrow McLaren driver, Pato O’Ward, acknowledges his minimal championship hopes for 2025, despite being the only competitor capable of challenging Alex Palou for the title. O’Ward, starting from pole due to teammate Christian Lundgaard’s grid penalty, is 121 points behind Palou. Despite starting ahead of Palou, O’Ward downplays the possibility of a close championship battle, emphasizing the significant points gap. Surprised by his qualifying position, O’Ward attributes the improved performance to track conditions affecting tire performance rather than setup changes. While focusing on winning races, O’Ward emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on opportunities to score points. Lundgaard’s fastest lap in qualifying adds complexity to their dynamics, but O’Ward affirms they both compete on equal terms without strategic considerations to secure championship points.
