McLaren signs the new 'free agent' F2 champion, Fornaroli.
"They required a driver who was prepared for Formula 1."
Newly-crowned Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli has finally found a path to F1 through McLaren, following an extraordinary year in which he competed without being affiliated with any Formula 1 academy. As noted by Mundo Deportivo upon his title win last weekend in Qatar, the 21-year-old Italian entered F2 and achieved victory on his first attempt without any contractual obligations.
"Being a Formula 2 champion should equate to an opportunity in the Formula 1 grid," correspondent Oriol Munoz stated. "What more does he need to do to gain entry into the Grand Circus? For Leonardo Fornaroli, however, that wasn’t quite enough."
Yet, his status as a "free agent" seems to have been part of a calculated strategy. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport's Jacopo Moretti, Fornaroli’s management steered clear of academy contracts to enhance his leverage once his performance peaked. Moretti mentioned that this strategy provided him with an uncommon level of flexibility at this stage – although it was true that Fornaroli had a strong chance of signing a contract for immediate race participation, choosing McLaren offers him the best opportunity for a future in F1.
McLaren, which recently restructured much of its junior lineup, needed a driver who was nearly F1-ready, according to Moretti. "They required someone prepared for Formula 1, and the immediate bet is Fornaroli," he wrote.
Fornaroli's ascent aligns with the type of driver McLaren increasingly prefers – not merely karting prodigies, but late-blooming champions such as Gabriel Bortoleto and Oscar Piastri. Moretti pointed out that Fornaroli’s last 18 months featured "a last-corner F3 title, followed by a solo journey to the F2 title as a rookie."
Importantly, this move brings him closer to real F1 machinery shortly. McLaren reportedly plans to utilize him in FP1 sessions next year, as well as extensive TPC testing with the 2024 MCL38. He is also eligible for the required rookie slot at the upcoming Abu Dhabi post-season test.
Fornaroli openly expressed his ambition to La Repubblica: "I want to reach F1 as quickly as possible."
However, this move has also sparked speculation. Austria's Osterreich newspaper suggests that McLaren may be preparing for the future amid rumors that Oscar Piastri – managed by Mark Webber – could depart early despite extending his contract until 2028. Should this occur, the paper notes, "the team already has a potential successor in place with this new signing."
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