Leonardo Fornaroli continues his path of preparation for Formula 1, hoping to join Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the second Italian on the grid in 2027. The driver from Piacenza is doing his part, accumulating kilometers in TPC tests and rookie free practice sessions, while McLaren is trying to secure him a seat at Haas. During the Monza weekend, Fornaroli met the Italian press, including FormulaPassion, with whom he took stock of what he hopes will become his march towards Formula 1.
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The preparation path
Fornaroli comes from several TPC sessions with old Formula 1 cars, the latest of which was with McLaren in Portimao. “I am happy with how it went and how I worked with the team,” says Leonardo. “The team seems very satisfied with the work we did together. I can only be happy with what I did. Now the decision is up to them.” The Italian feels the benefits of the tests so far: “Obviously I feel more confident because these are complicated cars to use. You need some kilometers before feeling 100% confident and every TPC is a step forward. I am continuously improving my driving and confidence with Formula 1 cars and I am happy about this.”
In addition to the TPC tests, there are the two free practice sessions held this year with McLaren, with more to come by the end of the year: “I am happy with how the last FP1 sessions went. I tried to give the best feedback to the team and provide as much data as possible to help them.” In this, Fornaroli is learning a lot from Lando Norris, whose ability to describe the car’s behavior he admires: “He is really precise, trying to bring out all the small problems he can explain to the engineers to try to give them as much information as possible. I am trying to take inspiration from him in this regard.”
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Never give up
Fornaroli also reflects on the path that brought him to dream of Formula 1 up close and has no doubts about what makes him most proud: “The fact that I never gave up, always seeking perfection and getting back up after difficult moments, especially during my first year in Formula 3, trying to work on improving physically, mentally, and in terms of driving. I maintained this approach last year in Formula 2 and I am maintaining it this year with the help of the McLaren team.” The hope is that the same approach can now secure Leonardo a spot on the grid for next season.
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