Oscar Piastri believes Leonardo Fornaroli is ready for Formula 1 as the Italian prepares for another important opportunity with McLaren during the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. The 2025 Formula 2 champion will replace Piastri in Friday morning’s opening practice session at the Hungaroring, giving him a second official F1 appearance and another chance to strengthen his position in the driver market.
Fornaroli’s objective will be to make an impression on track as McLaren continues to evaluate his development. The 21-year-old’s name is also attracting attention in connection with the 2027 Formula 1 grid, making his Budapest outing potentially significant for his longer-term prospects.
Leonardo Fornaroli returns to the McLaren for Hungary FP1
The Hungarian Grand Prix will be another special weekend for Leonardo Fornaroli, who will return to the cockpit during the first free practice session in place of regular McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.
It will be the young Italian’s second official Formula 1 appearance. His first came in Barcelona in mid-June, when he took over Lando Norris’s car during a practice session.
That previous experience gave Fornaroli his first opportunity to participate in an official Grand Prix weekend, while the Hungaroring will provide another chance to work directly with the race team and demonstrate how quickly he can adapt to the demands of a current Formula 1 car.
Leonardo Fornaroli linked with a possible 2027 F1 opportunity
Fornaroli has also become a notable name in discussions surrounding the Formula 1 driver market. According to the report, Andrea Stella and McLaren would like to see the Italian compete as a full-time Formula 1 driver in 2027.
Haas currently appears to be his most plausible destination. However, the American team is also reportedly attracting interest from Ferrari, which is said to be considering Haas as a possible route into Formula 1 for young Brazilian driver Rafael Camara, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
The situation could therefore create competition for a potential seat, although the source presents these possible 2027 destinations as driver-market speculation rather than confirmed agreements.
Fornaroli has built a strong case through his junior single-seater results. He won the Formula 3 championship in 2024 before following it with the Formula 2 title in 2025, securing consecutive championships across the two main categories directly below Formula 1.
Oscar Piastri says Leonardo Fornaroli is ready for F1
During Thursday’s press conference in Budapest, Oscar Piastri publicly praised the driver who will replace him in Friday morning’s opening practice session.
“Tomorrow I will hand the car over to Fornaroli in free practice,” Oscar Piastri said. “I think he is ready for F1. He has done a lot of testing with us, and it is fantastic to see how motivated he is.”
The Australian also highlighted Fornaroli’s attitude behind the scenes and his willingness to understand every aspect of the team’s work.
“He asks questions and tries to understand things,” Oscar Piastri continued. “He is a great team-mate, and I think he can do well.”
Hungarian GP practice represents an important test
Friday’s session will give Fornaroli another opportunity to demonstrate his preparation in an official Formula 1 environment. Beyond outright speed, young drivers are judged on the quality of their feedback, their ability to follow the team’s programme and how quickly they become comfortable with unfamiliar procedures.
Piastri’s comments suggest that Fornaroli has already impressed McLaren through his testing work, motivation and approach to learning. His Hungary appearance will now allow him to add further track experience while placing himself in view of teams considering their options for the 2027 season.
There is no confirmed Formula 1 race seat for Fornaroli at this stage, but his consecutive Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles, combined with McLaren’s support and another official practice opportunity, have given him a platform from which to strengthen his candidacy.
For now, his immediate focus will be Friday morning at the Hungaroring, when he takes over Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and attempts to make the most of his latest opportunity at the highest level of single-seater racing.
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