Leonardo Fornaroli, the young Italian driver and current Formula 2 champion, has had the opportunity to conduct several tests with the McLaren Formula 1 car, where he has covered over 900 kilometers in recent weeks.
After failing to secure a seat for the 2026 Formula 1 season, Fornaroli opted for a role as a reserve driver with the Woking team. These tests mark his first significant contact with the top-tier competition.
On March 23 and 24, he drove in Barcelona, where he completed 112 laps, totaling 512 kilometers. McLaren’s directors expressed great satisfaction with his performance, highlighting his ability to quickly adapt to the car.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, head of business at McLaren, praised Fornaroli, stating that “he has made fantastic progress” and that his performances reflect the qualities he has shown throughout his career in lower categories.
On April 7, the driver continued his training at Silverstone, where he completed 68 laps, equivalent to 393 kilometers. His program included long runs and experimentation with different steering configurations and fuel loads.
Fornaroli shared his excitement after the tests: “It’s amazing to drive the MCL60 again on a circuit that I like so much like Silverstone. With this second session, I was able to try several configurations that helped me better understand the car,” the driver commented.
McLaren has made clear its intention to provide Fornaroli with more opportunities to drive on other circuits while continuing to support the team both on track and in the simulator.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
