The Italian talent The driver market for next season has entered one of the most heated phases in terms of indiscretions, and one of the talents who is attracting the most attention from various teams is an ‘Italian’: Leonardo Fornaroli. Formula 3 champion in 2024 and winner in Formula 2 last year, the Piacenza native is now reserve driver for McLaren, with which he carried out his first F1 tests in March on the Barcelona circuit. The tests in McLaren… and not only Since then, the 21-year-old has taken to the track in other TPC (Test Previous Cars) tests always with the Woking team, with the exception of the recent days of 17 and 18 June in Jerez, where he carried out tests at the wheel of the 2025 Haas. From there, Fornaroli’s name was associated with a possible debut in F1 in 2027 with the American team, although there are other candidates to enter more generally in the Circus such as Jack Doohan (now third Haas driver), Yuki Tsunoda (reserve driver for Red Bull but of Japanese nationality, which would favor the technical partnership between Haas and Toyota) and the Brazilian Rafael Camara, member of the Ferrari Academy. There is therefore no shortage of names, but what raised particular question marks in the paddock was the reason behind the test carried out by Fornaroli, McLaren’s third driver, with the Haas. The team’s private tests, in fact, are supervised by Toyota, usually organized in order to promote young Japanese talents. Regarding Fornaroli’s possible future in Haas, team principal Ayao Komatsu did not want to make comments that could disturb the environment inside the garage, while recognizing the talent of the Formula 2 champion: “I don’t know where all this will take us, but the goal of our TPC program is to offer opportunities to young drivers – he explained to the media as reported by Marca – Leo is the reigning F2 champion; he is a solid driver and has an excellent development program with McLaren, so we are pleased to have the opportunity to evaluate him more closely. I know if we need a new driver, as my focus is on our two current drivers.”
Automobile Magazine – Formula1 English, News
2026-07-01 10:00:00
Komatsu: “Fornaroli is a solid driver, we are happy to evaluate him more closely”
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