McLaren is helping a driver land their first-ever F1 seat for the 2027 season.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is really impressed with reserve and development driver Leonardo Fornaroli’s potential.
The 21-year-old made a big splash last year by winning the Formula 1 rookie championship with Invicta, becoming only the eighth driver ever to win the title in their first season. Because of this, McLaren brought him on as their reserve and development driver.
Since then, the young Italian has gained valuable experience by participating in several Free Practice 1 sessions, including races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Hungaroring this year.
McLaren knows they’ve got something special in Fornaroli, and Stella is keen to see him racing on the Formula 1 grid, possibly as soon as next year. In a recent Q&A, Stella shared: “Leo is very mature in his approach to F1. He’s always careful and focused with every test, working step by step without rushing. Our engineers are happy with his steady progress and how he did in the Free Practice sessions in Barcelona and Budapest. His development is right on track, and we hope to see more chances for him to grow soon.”
While McLaren are focused on Fornaroli’s long-term future, there are reports they might loan him out for the 2027 season. Sources say Fornaroli is interested in joining Haas F1 next year and could replace Esteban Ocon. His team is working to secure him a spot with the American squad, which would give him valuable experience racing alongside driver Oliver Bearman.
McLaren seems to support this plan and would be open to loaning him out for more experience. Stella also previously said, “Leonardo is definitely a future talent in Formula 1. We want him driving, whether that’s with McLaren or, together, exploring other opportunities in F1.”