McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli is currently linked with a potential Formula 1 race seat at Haas for the 2027 season. The Italian driver, part of McLaren’s Driver Development Programme, recently completed a test with the American team, fueling speculation regarding his future.
Fornaroli, 21, has established a strong junior career record, securing back-to-back championships in FIA Formula 3 in 2024 and FIA Formula 2 in 2025. His F3 title was notably achieved through consistent performance rather than race victories, accumulating seven podiums and scoring points in 18 of 20 races.
During the current 2026 Formula 1 season, Fornaroli serves as a test and reserve driver for McLaren. He made his F1 car debut in March 2026 during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session in Barcelona.
His Free Practice 1 (FP1) debut with McLaren occurred at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in June 2026, where he recorded the fifth-fastest time. Fornaroli also participated in a second FP1 session with McLaren in Hungary in July 2026.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has publicly supported Fornaroli’s F1 aspirations, stating that he is ‘definitely worthy of being in F1.’ McLaren is actively supporting Fornaroli in his efforts to secure a full-time F1 seat for 2027.
Haas’s current driver lineup for the 2026 season consists of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. While Haas ideally aims to retain both drivers for 2027, Ocon’s position is under scrutiny following a challenging start to the current season.
Ocon has scored only one championship point in 2026, in contrast to his teammate Oliver Bearman’s 18 points. This performance disparity has led to increased speculation regarding potential changes to Haas’s 2027 driver roster.
Fornaroli’s test with Haas at Jerez in June 2026 drew attention, as Haas’s TPC outings typically focus on Toyota-backed Japanese talent due to their partnership. Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu acknowledged the test, stating the TPC program aims to provide opportunities for young drivers.
‘Leo is the reigning F2 champion, he is a strong driver and has a really good training program with McLaren, so we are happy with the chance to take a closer look at him,’ Komatsu explained.
Other drivers linked to a potential Haas seat for 2027 include Jack Doohan, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, and Red Bull reserve Yuki Tsunoda. Oliver Bearman is widely expected to remain with Haas for 2027.
BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson has identified Haas as the ‘most likely’ destination for Fornaroli should he transition to a full-time Formula 1 role.
