McLaren Racing confirmed that Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning FIA Formula 2 Champion, will join the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as a Reserve Driver for the 2026 season while continuing his role as a Test and Development driver within the McLaren Driver Development Programme. Alongside Fornaroli, Pato O’Ward will maintain his Reserve Driver position for the team as he pursues his racing commitments in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren.
Full Roster of Drivers for McLaren’s Development Initiatives
McLaren also unveiled the complete lineup for its Driver Development Programme in 2026, which includes Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ella Häkkinen, Ella Lloyd, Pato O’Ward, Ella Stevens, Dries Van Langendonck, and Richard Verschoor. Headed by Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the programme aims to prepare drivers for professional careers in top-tier motorsport, targeting entry into Formula 1, IndyCar, and the team’s upcoming participation in the World Endurance Championship.
Testing and Racing Roles for Reserve and Development Drivers
In his Reserve, Test, and Development capacity, Fornaroli will engage in an intensive testing and simulator program, assisting the Formula 1 team during a season marked by significant regulatory changes. Meanwhile, Richard Verschoor is set to compete in the European Le Mans Series with the DUQUEINE Team in the LMP2 class, alongside a testing schedule spanning McLaren Racing’s portfolio as preparations continue for their World Endurance Championship debut.
Driver Progression Through Racing Series
Matteo De Palo will advance to compete in FIA Formula 3 with Trident Motorsport, progressing after achieving the Vice-Champion title in the Formula Regional European Championship in 2024. Ella Lloyd will return to the F1 Academy with McLaren and Rodin Motorsport, following a strong inaugural season where she earned the Rookie of the Year honor. Her teammate, Ella Stevens, will also compete in F1 Academy driving the McLaren Oxagon car, supporting McLaren’s dedication to expanding opportunities for women in motorsport with an additional entry in partnership with NEOM.
Dries Van Langendonck will transition into single-seater racing, taking part in the British Formula 4 Championship and the Formula Winter Series with Rodin Motorsport, after an extensive Formula 4 testing program. Christian Costoya will similarly move from karting to single-seaters, joining the Italian Formula 4 Championship, Euro 4 Championship, and Formula 4 Middle East Championship in 2026.
Ella Häkkinen will focus on an intense preparation period ahead of the 2027 season through extensive Formula 4 testing as she continues her development within McLaren’s driver pathway.
Leadership Perspective on Driver Development
Alessandro Alunni Bravi emphasized the importance of the driver lineup for the team’s future prospects:
“We have selected an incredibly talented group of nine drivers, which shows the health of our talent pipeline. We are all excited to see their development this season as we create professional drivers across all aspects of racing, progressing towards Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.”
– Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer, McLaren Racing
Voices from McLaren’s Reserve Drivers
Leonardo Fornaroli expressed his enthusiasm about his elevated role within McLaren:
I’m thrilled to be stepping into an extended role with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Reserve Driver as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. It’s an exciting next step in my journey, and I’m looking forward to contributing to such a successful, Championship-winning team this season. A big thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for this opportunity.
– Leonardo Fornaroli, Reserve, Test and Development Driver, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team
Pato O’Ward shared his anticipation for continued growth balancing his dual responsibilities:
I am excited to continue in my role as Reserve Driver for the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, alongside my primary duties in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren. I’ve learned an incredible amount testing and driving F1 cars over the past few years, so I am looking forward to this continued growth and development.
– Pato O’Ward, Reserve Driver, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and Arrow McLaren Driver
Outlook for McLaren’s 2026 Season and Beyond
By confirming its reserve and development driver roster early, McLaren is reinforcing its strategic approach to nurturing emerging talent across multiple racing disciplines while supporting its Formula 1 operations and future endurance racing ambitions. The presence of a deep and diverse driver pool highlights the team’s commitment to sustaining competitive performance and building pathways for future champions. As 2026 unfolds, the progression of these drivers will be closely watched by fans and stakeholders anticipating their impacts within Formula 1, IndyCar, and endurance racing arenas.
