McLaren has announced that reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will drive Lando Norris\u2019s car in FP1 at this weekend\u2019s Barcelona Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Fornaroli followed in the footsteps of seven current F1 drivers \u2013 including Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri \u2013 by winning the prestigious F2 (formerly GP2) title in 2025.<\/p>\n
Lando Norris to miss Barcelona Grand Prix FP1<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n However, the Italian was unable to find a place on the Formula 1 grid for the F1 2026 season, joining McLaren\u2019s junior scheme at the end of last year.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old was promoted to the role of reserve driver earlier this year, sharing the position with McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O\u2019Ward.<\/p>\n Fornaroli has carried out an extensive testing program over recent months, carrying out a number of TPC [Testing of Previous Car] outings with McLaren\u2019s 2023 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Silverstone and the Circuit of The Americas.<\/p>\n The youngster has also supported the team\u2019s efforts both trackside and in the simulator.<\/p>\n Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri: McLaren head-to-head stats for F1 2026 season<\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2026: Head-to-head race statistics between teammates<\/a><\/p>\n McLaren has confirmed that Fornaroli will make his first FP1 appearance in Barcelona this weekend, taking to the wheel of the MCL40 of reigning world champion Norris.<\/p>\n Fornaroli will run the number 67 on his car during his F1 practice debut.<\/p>\n In a statement issued to PlanetF1.com by McLaren on Tuesday, Fornaroli said: \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting to drive the MCL40 this weekend in Spain for Free Practice 1.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to support the team with their preparations and work through the planned Friday programme.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also a very special milestone for me personally as it will be my first official Formula 1 session.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve worked towards for a long time and I\u2019m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take this next step with McLaren Racing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe experience I\u2019ve gained so far this year through the multiple Testing of Previous Cars events I\u2019ve successfully completed has been so valuable for my development and overall learning of driving a Formula 1 car.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for their continued support and I can\u2019t wait to get in the car on Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n In an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com last month<\/a>, Fornaroli\u2019s team boss for his title-winning F2 season, James Robinson of Invicta Racing, backed the Italian to find a place on the F1 2027 grid.<\/p>\n Asked if Fornaroli deserves a chance in F1, Robinson said: \u201cUnquestionably so.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are the guys who have won Formula 2 as a rookie? They are Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are all exceptional drivers. Leo is the anomaly, that he\u2019s not in Formula 1 right now.<\/p>\n \u201cBut of course, Oscar also had to sit on the sidelines for a year after he won the F2 championship and I\u2019d be very disappointed if Leo wasn\u2019t in a Formula 1 seat for next year.<\/p>\n \u201cJust look at the roll of honour there of drivers who have won F2 in their rookie season.<\/p>\n \u201cThose are the greatest drivers of their generation, if you think of Russell, Piastri, Leclerc, and of course, Gabi as well, albeit still very much in the early stages of his F1 career.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very much hoping, expectantly, that he\u2019ll be in an F1 seat next year.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI don\u2019t see what more evidence people need to see that Leonardo Fornaroli is a real hidden gem.<\/p>\n \u201cI think \u2018hidden gem\u2019 is the right word, because he wasn\u2019t affiliated with an F1 team at all until the end of last year.<\/p>\n \u201cGabi was at least with McLaren after his F3 championship.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, it does surprise me, but I certainly won\u2019t be surprised if we see him in F1 next season.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n