The 2008 season has to be one of the most memorable Formula 1 seasons in recent history. Much like the 2021 season, the 2008 title fight also went on to the wire. Lewis Hamilton, with a combination of sheer skill and Massa’s bad luck, managed to win the championship in the final race in Brazil.

Recently, McLaren’s IndyCar driver, Pato O’Ward, took the championship-winning MP4/23 for a spin recently. The V-8-powered beast was part of McLaren’s lineup. Interestingly, the lineups include cars driven by James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, and Bruce McLaren at Velocity Invitational. Despite all this, it was Hamilton’s MP4/23 that stole the show, screaming around the American track, with Pato doing an incredible job.

Hamilton’s Rocketship of A Car

O’Ward shared his POV footage on Twitter, which saw him zooming around the Sonoma Raceway with such a formidable car. Of course, the track had its own set of challenges – starting from massive changes in elevation, along with sweeping corners, but Pato prevailed.

The chrome McLaren, adorned with a dozen winglets for maximum downforce, showcased its prowess on the track, reaching speeds synonymous with the pinnacle of motorsport. The uphill charge into turn 1 and the rapid cutback into turn 2 unfolded with breathtaking speed, providing us with a spectacle of sheer engineering brilliance.

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The track’s complexity became evident as the braking zone for the infield carousel commenced at the crest of a blind rise. O’Ward, known for his aggressive driving style in IndyCar, seamlessly adapted to the F1 machinery. Interestingly, the way he navigated the esses on the backstretch was quite the site to watch.

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Fans on Twitter were particularly enjoying the amazing show Pato was putting on. Some fans even went as far as to tempt Pato to go for the track record.

Fans Cheer on Pato O’Ward

Twitter user Paul Gonzales, in response to the video shared by O’Ward, cheered him on to go break the record.

O’Ward was not aiming for a track record during this showcase run. However, his later comments after the lap hinted that the car still had a lot more to offer. Speaking to RACER, he expressed confidence that with a day of setup changes, the MP4/23 could shatter existing records. Throughout the video, O’Ward’s back endured relentless pounding as the car bottomed out.

Other fans were also impressed by how quick Pato was on that V8-powered beast. They were eager to call on Pato to make the switch to Formula 1, given his wonderful performance in IndyCar.

One fan, in particular, saw what Pato could do with the car. He summed it up with a simple “That is defo not a parade lap, Pato”

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Despite settling for a parade run, O’Ward couldn’t contain his admiration for the MP4/23, describing it as “so capable” and “just awesome.” This is only a prelude to his upcoming drive in Abu Dhabi. There, he is poised to drive a modern McLaren F1 car. However, fans of the V8 will be a little disappointed, as that car will feature a newer V6 engine.