Haas Taps McLaren Reserve Fornaroli for VF-25 Test Outing

Leonardo Fornaroli will sample Haas machinery this week, giving the reigning Formula 2 champion valuable mileage in his push for a full-time Formula 1 seat. The McLaren reserve driver is scheduled to pilot the VF-25 at the Circuito de Jerez on Wednesday and Thursday as the American squad utilizes its Testing of Previous Cars program.

Why it matters:

Track time in a recent Formula 1 chassis is a precious commodity for any junior driver proving they belong on the grid. Fornaroli’s Haas run comes immediately after his Grand Prix weekend debut with McLaren in practice, handing him back-to-back opportunities to impress potential employers before the 2027 driver market takes shape.

The details:

• Fornaroli will run Haas’s VF-25 at Jerez on 17–18 June under TPC rules, which permit teams to field older-specification cars strictly for driver evaluation and development.
• The Italian formally joined McLaren’s reserve roster after capturing the 2025 F2 crown and made his first official F1 weekend appearance by replacing Lando Norris for FP1 last time out.
• Haas noted that its own reserve driver, Ryō Hirakawa, will also be in attendance, though the primary focus is on assessing Fornaroli’s capabilities.
• TPC sessions remain among the few legal avenues for teams to give prospective recruits meaningful cockpit time without encroaching on restricted current-season testing protocols.

What's next:

The 2026 grid is largely settled, so attention is already shifting toward 2027, and this test places Fornaroli squarely in the conversation for an eventual race seat. Performing well for Haas could either accelerate his path within the McLaren fold or open the door to a direct promotion elsewhere, making the Jerez outing a pivotal early audition in his young career.