Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning FIA Formula 2 Champion, will participate in the Free Practice 1 session for McLaren at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. The Italian driver will take over Oscar Piastri’s car for the opening session of the weekend at the Hungaroring.
This marks Fornaroli’s second Free Practice 1 appearance for McLaren during the current 2026 Formula 1 season. He previously drove Lando Norris’s car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last month, where he finished fifth among the rookie drivers.
The opportunity for Fornaroli is part of the mandatory rookie driver sessions that Formula 1 teams are required to complete. Teams must field a rookie driver in four FP1 sessions across the season, with two sessions per car.
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is scheduled to take place from July 24 to 26 at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary. The first free practice session is set for Friday, July 24.
Fornaroli holds a dual role as a McLaren Reserve Driver and a Test and Development Driver for the 2026 season. He expressed his anticipation for the session.
‘I’m looking forward to driving the MCL40 in this weekend’s Free Practice 1 at the Hungaroring,’ Fornaroli stated. ‘It’s going to be another fantastic opportunity to continue my development with the car and build on the valuable work we completed together with the team in Barcelona.’
McLaren is also set to introduce a significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This includes a new floor and additional aerodynamic components, alongside an experimental rear wing to be tested exclusively in FP1.
Oscar Piastri remains under contract with McLaren until the end of the 2028 season, having signed an extension in March. His absence from FP1 is solely for the mandated rookie driver session.
Other teams will also feature rookie drivers in FP1 at the Hungaroring. Ryo Hirakawa will drive for Haas, replacing Oliver Bearman, while Paul Aron will step into the Alpine for Franco Colapinto.
