Leonardo Fornaroli, freshly crowned 2025 Formula 2 champion, is now looking toward Formula 1
The paddock is buzzing for Fornaroli. After the tense wait caused by the investigation into Lindblad (which ended with no penalties), the title is now official, and the Piacenza-born driver can finally focus on 2026 with a range of options that suggest a very promising future for “our” Leo.
Negli ultimi giorni, Fornaroli è stato al centro delle discussioni tra vari team per i Rookie Test di Formula 1, i quali si terranno ad Abu Dhabi dopo il Gran Premio di settimana prossima. Le trattative più avanzate, come team, sembrerebbero riguardare McLaren e Audi: due progetti diversi, due filosofie opposte, ma un unico obiettivo comune — assicurarsi uno dei talenti più completi dell’ultimo decennio di motorsport. Solo Leclerc, Russell, Piastri e Bortoleto hanno infatti vinto entrambe le categorie cadette.
Vanzini’s teaser and the rumors: is Leo heading to the Papaya team?
Among the clues that surfaced in recent hours, one stood out immediately: during a live Sky Italy broadcast, Carlo Vanzini said, “probably on Wednesday or Thursday there will be an announcement, involving the team that wears orange,” clearly hinting at McLaren.
Just minutes earlier, Mara Sangiorgio had made her position equally clear: “I know Fornaroli’s future…” followed by “With very high probability he will be in Formula 1 in 2026,” though she did not specify whether as a full-time driver or as a third driver.
Everything emerging in these hours seems to point in one direction: Fornaroli is very likely to land at McLaren — though it still remains to be seen whether this will be for the Rookie Test only or as the team’s official third driver in 2026. It’s also worth noting that Dunne left the McLaren Academy a few months ago, and the Papaya team currently lacks a true permanent reserve driver, having only Pato O’Ward available.
It’s a piece of news that excites Italian fans, a confirmation of how quickly Fornaroli has become a central figure in the paddock. From F3 champion to F2 champion, and now… the decisive step toward Formula 1 appears closer than ever.
The wait is almost over: perhaps, very soon, orange might really color the future of one of the brightest talents of the new generation.
Photo: Formula 2
