McLaren confirm Leonardo Fornaroli as 2026 reserve driver in academy update
McLaren Racing have announced its reserve drivers and confirmed its 2026 driver development programme line-up.
McLaren announced that Formula 2 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli will take up the role of 2026 reserve driver alongside his duties as a test and development driver within the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
Within his role as reserve, test and development driver, Leonardo will also undertake an intensive testing and sim programme to provide invaluable support to the Formula 1 team in an unprecedented era of new regulations.
Pato O’Ward, in addition to his championship pursuit with Arrow McLaren in the IndyCar Series, will also continue in his role as reserve driver for the team.
Fornaroli added: "I’m thrilled to be stepping into an extended role with McLaren as reserve driver as part of the 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."
O’Ward said: “I am excited to continue in my role as reserve driver for McLaren alongside my primary duties in the 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.”
The programme, led by chief business affairs officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi, has stated the aim is to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.
Alunni Bravi said: “The team are pleased to confirm its Driver Development Programme line-up alongside their racing and testing programmes for 2026.
“Within this, it’s great for Leonardo to step up into the reserve driver role for McLaren as part of his development with us, with Pato O’Ward also continuing in this role.
“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.”
Who else made the team?
McLaren also confirmed the full line-up of its talent development programme, alongside their racing programmes for the year.
The driver development programme will consist of Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ella Häkkinen, Ella Lloyd, Pato O’Ward, Ella Stevens, Dries Van Langendonck and Richard Verschoor.
Richard Verschoor will compete in the European Le Mans Series with the Duqueine Team in LMP2, alongside a testing programme across McLaren’s portfolio, as the team prepares for its upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.
Matteo De Palo will debut in Formula 3 with Trident Motorsport, taking a step up in the Formula 1 series ladder after a successful 2024 season as runner-up of the Formula Regional European Championship.
Ella Lloyd will continue in F1 Academy with McLaren and Rodin Motorsport, building on her successful debut season, where she earned the Rookie of the Year accolade.
Ella Stevens will also represent the team in F1 Academy with Rodin Motorsport, driving the F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon entry.
At the end of 2025, the team announced that it was doubling down on its commitment to opening pathways into motorsport for women by adding a second car to the series in partnership with NEOM.
After a successful programme of Formula 4 testing in 2025, Dries Van Langendonck will formally graduate into single-seaters, competing in the British Formula 4 Championship and the Formula Winter Series with Rodin Motorsport.
Christian Costoya will also graduate from karting into a Formula 4 programme, racing in the Italian Formula 4 Championship, the Euro 4 Championship and the Formula 4 Middle East Championship for the 2026 season.
Ella Häkkinen will undertake an intensive single-seater testing programme in Formula 4 in preparation for the 2027 season.
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