McLaren Reserve Fornaroli Steps into a Haas for Two-Day Jerez TPC Test
McLaren reserve and reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli is driving the Haas VF-25 in a two-day TPC test at Jerez on June 17 and 18, 2026, alongside Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa. The outing follows Fornaroli's impressive FP1 debut at Barcelona and gives both driver and team a chance to evaluate each other, with no formal agreement in place.
Fornaroli climbs into a Haas for the first time
McLaren reserve driver and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will test for the Haas Formula 1 team this week, driving the team's 2025 challenger, the VF-25, during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session at the Jerez Circuit in Spain on Wednesday the 17th and Thursday the 18th of June. [1] Also in attendance will be Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, who returns to F1 machinery after finishing third at the Le Mans 24 Hours last weekend. [1]
A statement released by Haas confirmed: "TGR Haas F1 Team has the capacity to test and appraise drivers through its TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program. Leonardo Fornaroli, the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Champion, has subsequently been offered the opportunity to drive its VF-25 at the Circuito de Jerez, Spain, 17-18 June, with TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa also in attendance." [1]
Who is Fornaroli?
Fornaroli took back-to-back titles in F3 and F2 between 2024 and 2025, with his success in the latter category catching the attention of McLaren, who signed him as one of the Woking-based team's reserve drivers for this season. [1] He is one of a select group of drivers to have won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles consecutively, joining Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto, all of whom have since established themselves on the Formula 1 grid. [3]
Having sampled McLaren's 2023 car earlier this year, the Italian got his first-ever Free Practice 1 outing last weekend ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, taking over Lando Norris's MCL40 and posting the fifth fastest time, only six-tenths behind Oscar Piastri. [1] Prior to the Jerez test, Fornaroli also completed 36 laps at Monza in the MCL60 as part of a McLaren TPC session on Tuesday. [5]
The context: TPC programme and what it means
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. [3] Fornaroli had already conducted TPC running with McLaren at Barcelona, Silverstone and Austin. [2] The Jerez outing will be his first time in Haas machinery, and his first experience of a Ferrari power unit.
:::analysis The timing of this test is notable. Fornaroli has no clear path to a race seat at McLaren in the near term, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri contracted well beyond 2026. Haas, meanwhile, has at least one seat potentially open for 2027. A TPC outing is a low-commitment way for both parties to gather data. McLaren's willingness to permit the test signals a pragmatic approach to their junior's development, and the team's own statements after Barcelona suggest they are actively helping Fornaroli find a route onto the grid, even if not immediately at McLaren itself. :::
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella indicated at Barcelona that his team is exploring where Fornaroli can gain experience in Formula 1 next season. [4] The 21-year-old will tackle the Spanish circuit on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his search for potential opportunities to join the F1 grid in 2027. [4] Fornaroli is expected to resume his McLaren reserve duties at the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix in two weeks' time.[2]
Related reading
[1]: formula1.com, "McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli set for test outing with Haas," accessed 2026-06-17. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/mclaren-reserve-driver-fornaroli-set-for-test-outing-with-haas.jOpICRn1mJpRIAqEU0Bzl [2]: the-race.com, "Haas offers F1 test to McLaren's F2 champion," accessed 2026-06-17. https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/haas-to-try-mclarens-f2-champion-in-private-f1-test/ [3]: planetf1.com, "Leonardo Fornaroli F1 future boosted with surprise Haas outing," accessed 2026-06-17. https://www.planetf1.com/news/leonardo-fornaroli-f1-future-boosted-haas-test-jerez [4]: motorsport.com, "Leonardo Fornaroli set for Haas F1 test at Jerez," accessed 2026-06-17. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/leonardo-fornaroli-set-for-haas-f1-test-at-jerez/10830809/ [5]: planetf1.com, "F1's busiest driver? McLaren junior joins another test," accessed 2026-06-17. https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-tpc-leonardo-fornaroli-monza-will-stevens
- [1]McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli set for test outing with Haas (formula1). Accessed 2026-06-17.
- [2]Haas offers F1 test to McLaren's F2 champion (the-race). Accessed 2026-06-17.
- [3]Leonardo Fornaroli F1 future boosted with surprise Haas outing (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-17.
- [4]Leonardo Fornaroli set for Haas F1 test at Jerez (motorsport). Accessed 2026-06-17.
- [5]F1's busiest driver? McLaren junior joins another test (planetf1). Accessed 2026-06-17.