Fornaroli to drive Piastri's McLaren in Budapest FP1

Leonardo Fornaroli will make his second Formula 1 practice appearance when McLaren runs him in Friday’s FP1 session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the 21-year-old Italian set to drive Oscar Piastri’s car at the Hungaroring. The outing gives McLaren another chance to evaluate its junior driver as the team works through the rookie running required in four mandatory FP1 sessions this season.

Fornaroli made his F1 weekend debut in Barcelona earlier this year, when he drove Lando Norris’ car and finished fifth in FP1. He joined McLaren in December after winning back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles, and had not previously been affiliated with an F1 team. He has also completed a two-day TPC test for Haas at Jerez in the VF-25, with rumors linking him to a possible future seat there, and said he has spent recent weeks preparing in McLaren’s simulator and performance hub.

McLaren is using the Budapest weekend to gather data on a revised car as it brings an important upgrade package that includes a new floor and other aerodynamic parts. The team is trying to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari, and it will test a developed version of its experimental rear wing only in FP1, not as a full introduction in Hungary or at the next race in the Netherlands. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said the team is also exploring ways to place Fornaroli on the grid.