Haas Offers Formula 1 Test to McLaren Junior Leonardo Fornaroli

Haas has offered McLaren junior driver Leonardo Fornaroli a Formula 1 test opportunity, giving the reigning Formula 2 champion another chance to gain valuable mileage in grand prix machinery.

Fornaroli has already been active in Formula 1 testing this year after joining McLaren’s junior programme late last year. Since then, he has completed several outings with the team and recently made his first appearance in an official Formula 1 practice session for McLaren at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The new opportunity comes through Haas, which operates a junior driver testing programme in partnership with its technical partner Toyota. The team has invited Fornaroli to take part in a test at Jerez, the former home of the Spanish Grand Prix. The session will provide another important step in his development as he continues to build experience in Formula 1 cars.

The test is scheduled to run over two days and is due to begin tomorrow. Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa is also expected to attend, giving the team an opportunity to gather further information and compare feedback during the programme.

For Fornaroli, the test arrives at an important stage in his career. He has won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in consecutive seasons, but he is currently without a race seat. That situation makes Formula 1 testing mileage particularly valuable, as it allows him to remain active, demonstrate his adaptability and continue working with teams at the highest level of the sport.

Although Fornaroli is part of McLaren’s junior structure, his immediate route into the team’s Formula 1 race line-up appears limited. Reigning world champion Lando Norris and team mate Oscar Piastri are both contracted to remain with McLaren next year, leaving little obvious space for promotion in the short term. As a result, additional testing opportunities with other teams could be significant for his longer-term prospects.

Haas already has reserve strength of its own. In addition to Hirakawa, the team has former Alpine Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan under contract as a reserve driver. Even so, its test programme gives junior and reserve drivers the chance to build Formula 1 experience while also helping the team collect useful running data.

The Jerez test will therefore be watched with interest, not only because it gives Fornaroli more time behind the wheel of Formula 1 machinery, but also because it reflects how teams continue to assess young drivers outside race weekends. With limited opportunities available on the official grand prix schedule, private and organised test programmes remain an important way for emerging talent to stay visible.

Fornaroli’s recent progress has made him one of the notable young drivers around the Formula 1 paddock. His back-to-back title success in Formula 3 and Formula 2 underlined his ability to perform across different levels of single-seater racing. However, the step into Formula 1 depends on more than junior results alone, with timing, available seats and team strategy all playing major roles.

For Haas, offering the test is also a chance to evaluate a highly rated driver in a controlled environment. For Fornaroli, it is another opportunity to add to his Formula 1 experience, strengthen his understanding of the demands of the category and maintain momentum while he waits for his next racing opportunity.

This article will be updated.

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