Jo Ramírez sits in front of the zoom camera with a white McLaren cap given to him by Lando Norris, the British driver who will compete in the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, from second place in the Drivers’ World Championship.
The friendship between Jo and Lando was born out of the curiosity of remembering the history of the McLaren team, which experienced its splendor in the 1980s with the help of owner Ron Dennis and the titles of an era marked by Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Jo Ramírez currently lives in Spain and spoke with El Economista about the culture at McLaren in the golden age, when he became the first Mexican engineer to work for a Formula 1 team. His career began thanks to his friendship with the drivers. Rodríguez brothers’ who have a tribute in the naming at the Mexico City Autodrome.
“In the 80s the team was adopted as ‘Mexico’s team’, because as an engineer, I had been one of the first Mexicans after the Rodríguez brothers to get involved in F1. I was one of the pioneers. Too many years have passed and McLaren has completely changed. Currently, it seems that McLaren is doing very well on all circuits. Today, we don’t live so much to win races but to win championships. Today McLaren has the Constructors’ Championship more secure, but what people will remember will be the Drivers’ World Championship champion.”
In 2024, the team has the opportunity to revive the memory of Mexican motorsport. Patricio O’Ward, the 25-year-old royal who demonstrated his potential in Indy Car, is registered in Free Practice 1 of the Mexican GP. In addition to Red Bull (with Checo Pérez), the McLaren team has a Mexican flag.
“Pato has a lot of charisma, he gets along well with everyone, he is very loved by the fans in Mexico, it would be fantastic to see him perform well. I hope he is a driver to consider not only for McLaren and as the years go by, that age is not a factor. Fernando Alonso, for example, does a good job at 43 years old and shows that age has no limits. The desire to win, the experience and the passion.”
In November 2023 O’Ward was named as the team’s reserve driver and raced for the first time in the top category in Free Practice 1 of Abu Dhabi 2024. In addition, he remains in competition with Arrow McLaren SP in the IndyCar Series.
Pato has been part of the McLaren Racing family since 2020, when he joined Arrow McLaren and has participated in several MCL35M Driver Development tests.
_What chances does McLaren have of winning a Drivers’ World Championship, after the last one won in 2008 (Lewis Hamilton)?
“Red Bull has the best chances with Max Verstappen, because he is capable of turning a car into a winner. There must be the magic that the car must not find the driver, but rather the other way around. However, Red Bull is fighting with one car and McLaren with two. Even Oscar Piastri and Lando have had to follow team orders due to internal competition when they have to compete for the team.”
