McLaren continues Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli’s development program and gives him a drive in the 2023 MCL60 at Silverstone
Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli was allowed to complete a second day of testing for world champion team McLaren on Tuesday. The Italian was at the wheel of a McLaren MCL60 from the 2023 Formula 1 season at Silverstone, where he completed a total of 393 kilometers over 68 laps.
For Fornaroli, who joined McLaren’s development program at the end of last season and will be an official reserve driver in 2026, it was his second outing in a McLaren Formula 1 car following a test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in March.
As a result, his program was a little more advanced this time: Fornaroli drove both long runs and runs with little fuel, and both hard and soft tires were also tested.
“Another good day on the track,” he sums up. “It was fantastic to be back in the MCL60. Silverstone is one of my favorite tracks, so I’m grateful to McLaren for the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car there.”
“As it was my second test, the timetable was more advanced so I was able to try different set-ups and drive with different fuel loads, which further enhances my understanding of driving a Formula 1 car,” said the reigning Formula 2 champion.
“I’m very pleased with today and was able to improve on my test a few weeks ago by getting even more familiar with these machines.”
The 21-year-old will not have a regular race cockpit in the 2026 season, but will focus on his role as a reserve driver at McLaren. The Italian was on site in Japan and is a regular guest at the McLaren Technology Centre, where he works closely with the team and spends a lot of time in the simulator.
As part of his training in McLaren’s development program, Fornaroli will sit in the MCL60 in further planned tests at various circuits over the course of the year. “I’m looking forward to continuing the testing this year,” he says. “This is very important for my role as a McLaren reserve driver and for my development within the program.”