Leonardo Fornaroli has made significant strides as McLaren’s reserve and test driver throughout the early part of the 2026 Formula 1® season. Having joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme at the end of 2025, the young Italian is steadily gaining valuable experience behind the wheel of a Formula 1® car while preparing for the possibility of a full-time race seat in the future.
Fornaroli’s journey in Formula 1® began in earnest with his first outing in March 2026 during a Testing of Previous Cars session in Barcelona. Since then, he has taken part in two Free Practice 1 sessions for McLaren, first in Barcelona in June where he finished fifth fastest, and again in Hungary in July. Additionally, he has tested with Haas at Jerez, further broadening his exposure to different team environments and car setups. These opportunities have allowed him to support McLaren’s full-time drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while gradually increasing his responsibilities within the team.
Adjusting to the Formula 1® environment has been a notable challenge for Fornaroli, who describes it as a “different world” compared to the junior categories. The intensity of work, the number of people involved, and the complexity of operations are on a much higher level. Nevertheless, he has found the experience “very helpful” in his development, focusing on gaining as much track time and simulator work as possible to prepare for a potential race seat.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has publicly acknowledged Fornaroli’s talent, stating that he is a promising driver with real possibilities for securing a full-time seat in 2027. While no official confirmation has been made regarding his future role, the team’s support highlights the progress he has made since winning back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in 2024 and 2025. These achievements laid the groundwork for his integration into the McLaren programme and his ongoing development in the sport’s top tier.
Throughout the season, Fornaroli has been keen to learn from his teammates and the broader McLaren team. His involvement in race weekends, including trackside duties and simulator sessions, is designed to build his understanding of the technical and strategic demands of Formula 1®. His testing with Haas also provided additional insights into different team operations and car characteristics, contributing to his overall growth as a driver.
As the 2026 season continues, Fornaroli is expected to return to McLaren’s race weekends, including the Dutch Grand Prix in late August. His focus remains on accumulating experience and refining his skills to be ready should a full-time opportunity arise. The path from reserve driver to race seat is demanding, but Fornaroli’s steady progress reflects a measured and professional approach to reaching the pinnacle of motorsport.