McLaren has firmed its F1 reserve line-up for 2026 season, while confirming the drivers in the development programme and their racing folios.
IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward will continue his reserve driver role of McLaren F1 team again in 2026 season outside his racing duties in America and he will be joined by 2025 F2 champion Leonoardo Fornaroli, who joined the development programme this month.
The Italian youngster will be immersed extensively in the testing and sim programme to support the F1 team in 2026. The Mexican, meanwhile, will continue on like before where the focus will be IndyCar and once he is done with the season, he will shift to some Formula 1 duties.
The McLaren driver development programme has host of drivers, some already known faces. Even though Fornaroli and O’Ward are reserves, they are still part of the programme. In addition, the programme features F2 veteran like Richard Verschoor.
Other names include Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Ella Hakkinen, Ella Lloyd, Ella Stevens and Dries Van Langendonck, with the programme being looked at by Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi. The programme not just focuses on F1, but also IndyCar and upcoming WEC series.
Racing programmes –
Verschoor: ELMS with DUQEINE Team (LMP2) + WEC prep testing
De Palo: F3 with Trident (debut)
Lloyd: F1 Academy with Rodin Motorsport (second season)
Stevens: F1 Academy with Roding Motorsport (debut)
Van Langendonck: British F4 and Formula Winter Series with Rodin Motorsport (debut)
Costoya: Italian F4, Euro 4 and Formula 4 Middle East
Hakkinen: F4 testing to prepare for races in 2027
“The team are pleased to confirm its Driver Development Programme line up alongside their racing and testing programmes for 2026,” said Bravi. “Within this, it’s great for Leonardo to step up into the Reserve Driver role for the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as part of his development with us, with Pato O’Ward also continuing in this role.
“We have selected an incredibly talented group of nine drivers, which shows the health of our talent pipeline. We are all excited to see their development this season as we create professional drivers across all aspects of racing, progressing towards Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.”
Fornaroli noted: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into an extended role with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Reserve Driver as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. It’s an exciting next step in my journey, and I’m looking forward to contributing to such a successful, Championship-winning team this season. A big thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for this opportunity.”
And O’Ward added: “I am excited to continue in my role as Reserve Driver for the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, alongside my primary duties in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren. I’ve learned an incredible amount testing and driving F1 cars over the past few years, so I am looking forward to this continued growth and development.”
Departed McLaren programme during/post 2025: Ugo Ugochukwu, Alex Dunne, Martinius Stenshorne and Brando Badoer.
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