Amid rumours of being in the running for a Formula 1 seat with Haas, McLaren is to field junior driver Leonardo Fornaroli for another free practice outing at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Italian has been active within the ranks of the Woking-based squad since joining in December last year, having incredulously been without any affiliation from an F1 team amid his back-to-back F3 and F2 championship wins.
Fornaroli earned his big break at the Barcelona-Catalunya, when he, like many development and reserve drivers, was handed the chance to take the reins of an F1 car over a Grand Prix weekend for the first time.
And behind the wheel of the MCL40, the 21-year-old impressed immediately, taking P5 in FP1.
The following week, Fornaroli was loaned out to Haas for a TPC test at Jerez, driving its 2025 challenger, the VF-25, in a two-day stint.
And at the Hungaroring, Fornaroli will once again be handed an FP1 seat, this time, to be specific, Oscar Piastri’s, having been in the place of Lando Norris in Spain.
|I’m looking forward to driving the MCL40 in this weekend’s Free Practice 1 at the Hungaroring,” he said.
“Every session is a chance to learn more, gain confidence and contribute to the team’s programme for the weekend. I’ve been very busy in Woking over the past few weeks preparing this session in both the simulator and at the Optimum Nutrition McLaren Performance Hub, to make sure I’ll be ready as I can.
“I’m really grateful to everybody at the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team for all the support they’ve given to me so far. I can’t wait to get out on track on Friday, have fun and make the most of every lap to help the team.”
Is Fornaroli auditioning for a Haas seat?
Fornaroli’s talent is undeniable, and his appearance at Barcelona underlined that, finishing the hour just six tenths of Piastri’s time.
His career trajectory is eerily close to that of Audi star Gabriel Bortoleto, who took back-to-back F3 and F2 titles, and like the Brazilian, won the latter with Invicta Racing.
Unfortunately, no race seat was forthcoming, as it was for Bortoleto, who ironically left McLaren to take a spot at Sauber last year, amid its morping into the German marque.
But reports from Brazilian publication UOL state that Fornaroli is in contention for a seat with Haas for 2027.
The American squad has been at the centre of speculation for some time around its roster for next season, with Oliver Bearman out of contract and Esteban Ocon’s seat rumoured to be at risk.
Current F2 title contender Rafael Camara – a Ferrari junior, like Bearman – is thought to be in the frame, along with Red Bull’s reservist, Yuki Tsunoda, currently without a seat, having lost his to Isack Hadjar for this season.
It is distinctly possible that the three men could be contesting either both or just one of the seats at the Banbury-based outfit, but all three are required to keep their head down as F1’s silly season begins.
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