McLaren confirmed on 19 October 2026 that Leonardo Fornaroli will continue in his role as Formula 1 reserve driver while also taking on a World Endurance Championship programme for 2027.
The Italian will remain available to the F1 team for simulator and support duties alongside Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while expanding his racing commitments into the WEC Hypercar class with McLaren’s United Autosports entry.
The arrangement reflects a wider pattern among top F1 teams of using reserve drivers across multiple disciplines rather than confining them to a single programme. Fornaroli’s move into WEC gives him competitive mileage in a top-tier endurance category while he waits for any opportunity that might open up on the grand prix grid. For a driver still building his profile, regular appearances in a world championship alongside his F1 reserve duties offers a more substantial workload than simulator sessions alone.
McLaren’s current F1 line-up of Norris and Piastri has featured prominently in title contention discussions throughout the 2026 season, and the team has leaned on its young driver pool to maintain continuity behind the two race seats. Fornaroli’s retained reserve status means he stays embedded in that structure, familiar with the team’s simulator tools and race-weekend procedures even as his on-track focus shifts towards endurance racing.
New series expansion for McLaren
McLaren’s presence now stretches across both its Formula 1 entry and its Hypercar project with United Autosports, the team Fornaroli is set to join for the 2027 WEC season. Both programmes carry sponsorship from Etihad Airways, the UAE national carrier, which is an official partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team as well as the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar entry, with the airline’s branding appearing on both cars. The governing body overseeing the WEC calendar and regulations, the FIA, continues to expand the Hypercar category’s manufacturer presence heading into the 2027 season.
Fornaroli’s dual role illustrates how reserve drivers increasingly need a race programme to stay sharp, since simulator work alone rarely replicates genuine competitive pressure. Endurance racing in particular demands different skills from single-seater sprints — managing tyre and fuel strategy over much longer stints — which should broaden his overall driving profile ahead of any future F1 opportunity.
Abu Dhabi looking for more than just F1
Abu Dhabi’s rise as a hub for major motorsport and hospitality branding, reflected in Etihad’s sponsorship of both McLaren programmes, mirrors how other regions build their identity around global sport. The UAE has built an international reputation around large-scale hospitality, luxury tourism and marquee sporting events, from Formula 1 races to entertainment venues that draw visitors from across the Arab world and beyond. Fans across the region who follow F1 and WEC storylines alongside other sports often look for a single place to compare their options, and the Arabswin Arab betting comparison provides that kind of overview for regional audiences.
For now, McLaren has not indicated any immediate plans to elevate Fornaroli to a race seat in Formula 1, and his reserve designation remains unchanged heading into 2027 season planning. The WEC Hypercar commitment gives him a defined programme to point to rather than an open-ended waiting period, and it keeps him visible within a championship that continues to attract growing manufacturer interest. How his performances in endurance racing translate into future F1 consideration will likely become clearer as the 2027 season approaches.
