Haas Runs McLaren Reserve Fornaroli at Jerez as 2027 Seat Race Begins
McLaren reserve and 2025 Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli completed a two-day Testing of Previous Cars programme with Haas at Jerez on 17 and 18 June 2026. The run came days after his FP1 debut in Barcelona and adds weight to reports that McLaren is actively seeking a 2027 race seat for the 21-year-old Italian, with Haas identified as a leading candidate.
The test and its context
Haas confirmed that McLaren junior Leonardo Fornaroli was involved in a two-day Testing of a Previous Car (TPC) outing at Jerez in the VF-25, the team's 2025 model. [2] The 21-year-old tackled the Spanish circuit on Wednesday and Thursday of the week of 16 June, as Fornaroli starts to seek potential opportunities to join the F1 grid in 2027. [1] Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa also took part in the test. [1]
Haas noted that it "has the capacity to test and appraise drivers through its TPC programme" and that Fornaroli had "subsequently been offered the opportunity." [3] Haas began operating a TPC programme last year, with its technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing having created the capability to offer tests to drivers away from the Formula 1 calendar. [2]
A rapid rise ahead of Jerez
The 21-year-old Italian is one of a select group of drivers to have won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles back-to-back, with Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto all having done so and since established themselves on the Formula 1 grid. [2] The Italian received a boost to his hopes of F1 promotion in December 2025 when, after winning the 2025 F2 title, McLaren announced he had signed to their driver development programme; it was also announced that he would be McLaren's reserve driver for the 2026 season alongside IndyCar star Pato O'Ward. [4]
The Jerez test came less than a week after Fornaroli made his F1 session debut with McLaren in FP1 at the Barcelona Grand Prix, where the Italian finished fifth and 0.8 seconds off pacesetter George Russell. [1] After that session, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: "I'm very happy with his attitude, speed and consistency. Leonardo is definitely an asset for Formula 1 and we want him to drive. He could certainly do that for McLaren Racing in the future, but at the same time we are working together to explore every opportunity that may arise in Formula 1." [4]
The 2027 picture at Haas
:::analysis With both of McLaren's race seats occupied by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on long-term contracts, any near-term promotion within the Woking team is unlikely. Haas therefore represents a logical pathway for McLaren to place a highly rated junior on the grid, a strategy with a clear precedent in the case of Gabriel Bortoleto, who moved from McLaren's junior programme to Audi for 2025.
The Haas seat situation lends itself to speculation because one of the two seats is genuinely unsettled. Ferrari's influence at Haas, through the existing Bearman relationship and the Ferrari power unit, means Ferrari junior Rafael Camara is also understood to be a candidate. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, in this scenario, holds unusual leverage over two major manufacturers simultaneously.
Cross-team TPC arrangements are not unprecedented; Crash.net noted that Alpine-contracted Paul Aron has also done FP1 sessions for Audi this season. That context cautions against over-reading the Jerez run as a guaranteed pathway to a race seat. :::
Haas is expected to retain Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman for 2027, but Esteban Ocon's future appears less certain. [5] McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed he is working to place the 21-year-old Italian on the grid for 2027, and Haas looks like the most natural opening. [1] Motorsport.com reported the test on 16 June, noting that Fornaroli is seeking potential opportunities to join the F1 grid in 2027. [1]
Haas stressed that the test is part of its authorised TPC programme, which allows the American team to evaluate and assess drivers using previous-generation Formula 1 machinery. [6] Haas has not indicated that it is evaluating Fornaroli for a future race seat, and cross-team testing arrangements involving reserve drivers have become increasingly common in Formula 1. [6]
Related reading
[1]: Motorsport.com, "Leonardo Fornaroli set for Haas F1 test at Jerez," accessed 2026-06-23. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/leonardo-fornaroli-set-for-haas-f1-test-at-jerez/10830809/ [2]: PlanetF1, "Leonardo Fornaroli F1 future boosted with surprise Haas outing," accessed 2026-06-23. https://www.planetf1.com/news/leonardo-fornaroli-f1-future-boosted-haas-test-jerez [3]: Crash.net, "McLaren F1 reserve Fornaroli loaned to Haas for TPC run after Barcelona FP1 debut," accessed 2026-06-23. https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1098904/1/mclaren-f1-reserve-fornaroli-loaned-haas-tpc-run-after-barcelona-fp1-debut [4]: GPFans, "F1 team to hold audition for 21-year-old sensation," accessed 2026-06-23. https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1086143/mclaren-leonardo-fornaroli-haas-f1-team-audition-jerez-circuit/ [5]: F1-Fansite, "McLaren junior Fornaroli tests Haas ahead of 2027 seat race," accessed 2026-06-23. https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-news/fornaroli-emerges-as-haas-frontrunner-ahead-of-doohan/ [6]: F1i.com, "McLaren junior Fornaroli in action with Haas in Jerez," accessed 2026-06-23. https://f1i.com/news/567023-mclaren-junior-fornaroli-in-action-with-haas-in-jerez.html
- [1]Leonardo Fornaroli set for Haas F1 test at Jerez (motorsport). Accessed 2026-06-23.
- [2]Leonardo Fornaroli F1 future boosted with surprise Haas outing (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-23.
- [3]McLaren F1 reserve Fornaroli loaned to Haas for TPC run after Barcelona FP1 debut (crash). Accessed 2026-06-23.
- [4]F1 team to hold audition for 21-year-old sensation (gpfans). Accessed 2026-06-23.
- [5]McLaren junior Fornaroli tests Haas ahead of 2027 seat race (f1-fansite). Accessed 2026-06-23.
- [6]McLaren junior Fornaroli in action with Haas in Jerez (f1i). Accessed 2026-06-23.