F1, McLaren: Fornaroli joins the team as a test driver

Rome, 2 December (LaPresse) – McLaren Racing has announced that 2025 FIA Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, 2019 FIA F3 World Cup Macau Grand Prix winner Richard Verschoor and 2025 FIA Karting European champion Christian Costoya have joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme. All three drivers join the team, whose main objective is to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s imminent entry into the World Endurance Championship. The McLaren Driver Development Programme currently includes Pato O’Ward, Dries van Langendonck, Ella Lloyd, Matteo De Palo, Ella Stevens, Ella Häkkinen, Leonardo Fornaroli, Richard Verschoor and Christian Costoya. Fornaroli, a 20-year-old from Piacenza, joins the programme after securing four wins and five podium finishes in the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Feature and Sprint races. These performances saw the Italian driver become only the third driver to achieve back-to-back wins in both the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 championships, emulating current McLaren Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri and McLaren Driver Development Programme graduate Gabriel Bortoleto. As part of his involvement in the programme, he will take on a test and development role within the Formula 1 team structure.