Leonardo Fornaroli Slated for FP1 Outings in Mexico and Brazil
McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli is set to step back into the cockpit of the team’s current-spec MCL40 for the upcoming Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix. The young Italian driver, who claimed the Formula 3 title in 2024 and the Formula 2 championship in 2025, previously took part in opening practice sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Hungaroring earlier in the season. These scheduled sessions in the Americas will fulfill McLaren’s remaining mandatory rookie practice obligations for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
Fornaroli shared his enthusiasm about the upcoming opportunities and the unique tests that await him at both venues: “I’m really excited to return to the MCL40 and do two more official Free Practice 1 sessions with the team,”
said Fornaroli, who joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme just under a year ago. “The Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix are two great events, which will challenge me as a driver. Interlagos is a historic circuit with lots of mixed technical corners, and the altitude in Mexico City will definitely be a new physical challenge for me. It’s a great opportunity for my own development, and to also help the team over their weekend.“This test at Circuit Paul Ricard was really beneficial. It’s been a few months since I was in an F1 car, so it was good to get back into it ahead of Mexico. This track is also really fun to drive, and of course driving the MCL39 for the first time made it even better. To drive a double championship-winning car was really cool.
He added: “Thank you to the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team for giving me these opportunities, and to everyone in the McLaren Driver Development Programme for their guidance and continued support. I look forward to being back with the team in Mexico.”
Extensive Track Preparation at Circuit Paul Ricard
To prepare for the back-to-back Grand Prix weekends, Fornaroli took part in McLaren’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program last weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. Across the test, he logged nearly 350 kilometres on the venue’s full Grand Prix layout behind the wheel of the MCL39, the car that powered McLaren to the 2025 double world championship. The outing marked his sixth career Formula 1 test with the Woking-based outfit and focused heavily on high-fuel, long-run simulations mirroring the run plans of standard FP1 sessions, as well as evaluating several mechanical and aerodynamic setups.
British driver Jake Hughes, serving as a test and development driver for McLaren, was also in action at Circuit Paul Ricard. Hughes shared driving duties in the MCL39 to gain real-world track references that directly translate to calibrating and correlating McLaren’s ongoing simulator development programs.
Why This Matters: Expanding Horizons with McLaren’s 2027 WEC Program
Mandatory rookie FP1 allocations remain a vital pipeline for young talent to gain track time in modern Formula 1 machinery, but McLaren’s commitment to Fornaroli reaches beyond grand prix weekends. The team confirmed that the Italian driver has secured a seat in their new Hypercar entry for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) beginning in 2027. This lineup will include an appearance at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, all while Fornaroli maintains his duties as an official Formula 1 reserve driver for McLaren, giving him a robust, multifaceted top-tier racing program for the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Grands Prix will Leonardo Fornaroli participate in during the 2026 season?
Fornaroli is scheduled to drive the MCL40 during Free Practice 1 at both the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. These outings follow his earlier FP1 runs in Spain and Hungary.
What car did Leonardo Fornaroli drive during his recent test in France?
During the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) event at Circuit Paul Ricard, Fornaroli drove McLaren’s MCL39, the chassis that secured the 2025 double championship, completing almost 350 kilometres.
What are Leonardo Fornaroli’s racing plans beyond Formula 1 reserve duties?
McLaren announced that Fornaroli will drive for their new Hypercar outfit in the FIA World Endurance Championship starting in 2027, competing in endurance rounds including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while remaining a McLaren F1 reserve driver.
