Red Bull Racing has confirmed IndyCar's Patricio O'Ward has joined the team as a junior driver with immediate effect.
O'Ward currently competes on a part-time basis in the NTT IndyCar Series with the well-renowned British outfit Carlin, who are in their second season of competition in the US-based championship.
The young Mexican claimed the 2018 Indy Lights championship, beating fellow young driver Colton Herta in a closely fought battle. Herta also graduated to IndyCar with the Harding Steinbrenner Racing team.
The 20-year old admits thats whilst he is enjoying his time in IndyCar, he does have his sights set on joining Formula 1 and winning the World Championship.
"This is a great opportunity for me, naturally every racing driver has their eye on F1 and would give anything to be World Champion," said O'Ward.
"So to join the Red Bull Junior Team that has provided that F1 possibility to so many drivers is fantastic for me.
"I'm thrilled to be contesting the IndyCar series with Carlin, apart from the Indianapolis 500 we are prioritising the road course so Indy is the only oval I am doing. We've already had success especially considering the fact that I am a Rookie and Carlin are in their second IndyCar season.
"You can't get away from the fact that we don't have the 25 years of experience that the major established teams have so any time you are running in the top ten and giving them a hard time you are doing a good job."
"We plan to carry on doing that starting with this weekend at Indy. It's the road course and it's a track I go well at, I've had success there so I am very much looking forward to it."
O'Ward's next race will be at the Indianapolis Grand Prix on May 11.