F1
Fornaroli and O'Ward will be McLaren's reserve drivers in 2026
© McLaren
En Formula 1, the interplay between academy, tenured status, and the various roles essential to the development of the car Things are often moving along at a good pace. In this case, the winter of 2025-2026 is no exception, with a number of announcements within the teams. This Thursday, January 15th, McLaren announced that in addition to the already confirmed presence of Pato O'Ward as reserve driver behind Oscar piastri et Lando NorrisLeonardo Fornaroli also joined the program.
A member of the McLaren Academy since he secured his championship title Formula 2Until the end of the 2025 season, Leonardo Fornaroli, despite his illustrious career, had not yet been signed by any team. Now, he will be one of the drivers considered should one of the two regular drivers be unavailable. Furthermore, he will retain his recent role as a development driver for the car, which includes significant simulator work.
“We started discussions during the two-month break. Then we finalized the agreement in Qatar.” the champion revealed to us last DecemberIt's an honor for me that a historic team like McLaren wants to bring me into their academy, especially since they just won the Constructors' and Drivers' titles in F1. We're finalizing the last details with McLaren and will announce my program for 2026 soon. Formula 1 is my main goal and will be my priority next year. I'll take this year as an opportunity to learn so I'm ready to arrive in F1 as soon as possible.
A well-stocked academy for McLaren in 2026
Headed by Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the development and testing program linked to the F1 team, which includes all the drivers from the academy as well as the winners of said academy, will include Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ella Häkkinen, Ella Lloyd, Pato O'Ward, Ella Stevens, Dries Van Langendonck and Richard Verschoor this season.
ALSO READ > Leonardo Fornaroli: "Oscar Piastri congratulated me on my title."
Regarding Richard Verschoor, for example, who is now competing in LMP2 in the championship ofELMSTests will be organized throughout the year in preparation for McLaren's imminent arrival in WEC 2027 soon.
In short, between F1, IndyCar, EnduranceBut also with promotional programs like F1 Academy and F4, McLaren is expanding its reach during a year of transition in every respect. Can the performance continue as it did in 2025?
Mathieu Chambenoit
Responsible for the single-seater categories (F2, F3, FRECA, Eurocup-3, F4...), I enjoy discussing F1, Endurance, or MotoGP.
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Paul Lucas
16/01/2026 at 08:51 a.m.
And there you have it, another little Italian in the F1 circus... Who knows, anything is possible in this "wonderful" world...
Yves-Henri RANDIER
15/01/2026 at 08:00 a.m.
A seemingly good move for Fornaroli, who was part of no academy and secured the 2025 F2 title. But to date, which McLaren Academy driver other than Norris has been given a Formula 1 seat? None... something to think about!
Hilton Leon
15/01/2026 at 05:59 a.m.
Reserve driver: a gimmick. You're paid peanuts, you'll never drive the car (maybe in the simulator). A gimmick to stop them signing up elsewhere in case they might be useful someday. Sad.