F2 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli Joins McLaren Driver Programme for 2026, Alongside Richard Verschoor and Christian Costoya

Leonardo Fornaroli, fresh off his Formula 2 title win, has officially joined McLaren's Driver Development Programme for the 2026 season. This move signals a significant step in the Italian's career, with McLaren also bolstering its junior ranks by adding seasoned F2 driver Richard Verschoor and promising karting champion Christian Costoya.

Why it matters:

McLaren's revamped Driver Development Programme is crucial for securing future talent across its expanding racing portfolio, which includes F1, IndyCar, and the upcoming World Endurance Championship. By bringing in a proven champion like Fornaroli and an experienced F2 driver like Verschoor, McLaren is strategically investing in a robust pipeline of drivers, ensuring a steady stream of talent to potentially feed into its top-tier racing operations. This structured approach helps mitigate risks and provides diverse options for team placements.

The Details:

• Leonardo Fornaroli's Ascent: The 20-year-old Italian driver secured back-to-back titles, winning the 2024 Formula 3 championship and then the Formula 2 title in Qatar. His F2 season included four wins and five podiums, making him the latest in a line of drivers like Oscar Piastri and Gabriel Bortoleto to achieve consecutive junior series championships.
• Fornaroli's 2026 Role: Fornaroli is slated for a test and development role with McLaren's F1 team in 2026, with potential for TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) outings throughout the season. He expressed his motivation to "take the next step in my development through the programme as I work toward my ultimate goal of racing at the highest level."
• Richard Verschoor's Experience: The 24-year-old Dutch driver, a veteran of Formula 2, currently sits third in the driver's standings. While his exact duties are not yet outlined, his inclusion adds significant experience to the programme, offering a mature talent pool for McLaren's various racing endeavors.
• Christian Costoya's Potential: Joining at a younger level, multiple karting champion Christian Costoya will step into single-seater racing after winning the 2024 European Karting Championship. He is set to debut in the 2026 F4 Middle East Championship.
• Broader Programme Refresh: These additions are part of a larger refresh, following the recent confirmations of Ella Stevens and Ella Hakkinen at karting level, Ella Lloyd in F1 Academy and F4, and Matteo De Palo at F3 level. Dries Van Langendonck remains with the programme.
• Departures: The influx of new talent follows the release of several drivers, including Brando Badoer, Martinius Stenshorne, and Ugo Ugochukwu. Alex Dunne also departed due to a disagreement over his progression path, particularly an unwillingness to switch to IndyCar.

What's next:

McLaren Racing's Alessandro Alunni Bravi emphasized the importance of developing their talent pipeline to "provide options for all of our expanding racing teams." The diverse additions, from a newly crowned F2 champion to promising karting stars, illustrate McLaren's commitment to building a comprehensive and sustainable development system. The coming seasons will reveal how these drivers integrate and progress, potentially shaping McLaren's future in Formula 1 and beyond.