Since joining McLaren’s development program last December, Leonardo Fornaroli has been accumulating experiences behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car at a fast pace.
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FIA Formula 3 champion in 2024 and then F2 champion in 2025, the 21-year-old Italian is now continuing his learning with the goal of securing a full-time seat in F1.
McLaren offered him the reserve driver status on the recommendation of his compatriot Alessandro Alunni Bravi, close to team principal Andrea Stella.
“It’s another world”
Private tests, simulator sessions, and FP1 sessions have followed one another during his first eight months at McLaren: “A lot is happening,” Fornaroli admits. “We have done many simulator sessions to prepare for each TPC and each FP1, and we have also done support work on Fridays during Grand Prix weekends, which I found very useful for my development.”
After a first test in Barcelona, Fornaroli also took part in his first free practice session there, finishing with the fifth-best time: “We made good progress at each session. Then there was my first FP1 in Barcelona, which was a very nice experience. I didn’t have many laps to push, but the goal was to help the team by providing good data for aerodynamics.”
The transition from junior categories to the environment of an F1 team is also a major change: “It’s another world. It’s the beginning of… how to say… this is where you start to become a professional driver. There are many more people working in an F1 team than in F2 and F3, and much more work. It’s very intense, but I enjoy that.”
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Fornaroli can also observe directly Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in his reserve role: “There will be more TPC and FP1 sessions, more hours in the simulator, more work on Fridays, and more work with Lando and Oscar, trying to learn as much as possible.”
Zak Brown sees him in F1
His performances have naturally fueled speculation about a possible full-time seat in 2027. Zak Brown believes his protégé has the necessary level: “He is a great talent. He has done tests with us and, I hope, he will get a seat in F1. I think he clearly deserves to be in Formula 1.”
Fornaroli also believes this goal is now realistic: “Absolutely. We are working on it and trying to make it happen. I am currently focused on the present and on my work. There is still work to be done, but I think we are in a good position.”
After two consecutive titles in the main junior categories, the next step is now clear for Fornaroli: to turn his role at McLaren into an opportunity to become a full-time Formula 1 driver. He has already been tested by Haas in Jerez with a potential promotion in 2027 in mind: wait and see…
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