Fornaroli to Test for Haas as McLaren Eyes 2027 F1 Seat

McLaren is accelerating efforts to place 2025 Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli on the Formula 1 grid by 2027, starting with a Haas test session in Jerez this week. The American outfit confirmed the Italian will drive its VF-25 at the Circuito de Jerez on June 17–18, just days after McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the team is actively scouting F1 opportunities for the young charger outside its own cockpit.

Why it matters:

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri firmly entrenched at McLaren, Fornaroli faces no realistic opening at the team until at least 2027. Finding a temporary home at a midfield outfit has become a familiar proving ground for academy drivers, and securing a Haas seat—or even a reserve role—could keep his development on track while McLaren waits for a vacancy.

The details:

• Haas formally invited Fornaroli to its Testing of Previous Cars program, where he will share track time at Jerez with team reserve Ryō Hirakawa.
• The test adds another layer to Haas’s ongoing 2027 driver review. Oliver Bearman is widely expected to lead the lineup, but Esteban Ocon’s future remains clouded.
• The team’s technical ties with Toyota have fueled speculation that a Japanese driver such as Yuki Tsunoda could join the fold, while Ferrari-backed Rafael Camara is reportedly interested though not the top priority.
• Stella praised Fornaroli’s methodical approach after his Barcelona FP1 outing, noting the 21-year-old executed complex rake work with precision before turning competitive lap times. Stella estimated Fornaroli lost roughly two tenths on the straights due to battery management and traffic but still delivered impressive pace and consistency.

What's next:

Fornaroli’s Jerez audition lands squarely in the heart of silly season. A strong showing could vault him into contention for a race seat or reserve role at Haas, giving McLaren the partner-team solution it needs to fast-track its junior star onto the F1 grid.