Leonardo Fornaroli Makes McLaren F1 Debut: Completes Two-Day TPC Test in Barcelona

Following his triumph in the F2 championship last year, Leonardo Fornaroli is now focusing his on-track activities as a development driver for McLaren. The Italian driver recently completed a two-day TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) test at the Barcelona circuit, covering over 500 kilometers. Throughout the year, Fornaroli will continue to be engaged in similar activities, complemented by simulator work at Woking.

Fornaroli Logs Over 500 km at Montmeló in the MCL60

Leonardo Fornaroli, who joined the McLaren program last autumn, completed his first TPC test behind the wheel of a Woking car. The reigning F2 champion logged a total of 110 laps at Montmeló in the MCL60, a 2023 single-seater. While new-generation cars differ significantly from the previous technical cycle, McLaren emphasized the value of the experience gained, particularly in familiarizing Fornaroli with the internal dynamics of the garage during an on-track session, as specified in the team's statement.

The team stated: "It was Leonardo's debut in a Formula 1 car. He made good progress during the test, gaining valuable experience in various driving aspects, including high and low fuel management. This test is crucial for Leonardo's development within the McLaren Driver Development Program, preparing him for the role of McLaren Reserve Driver. Leonardo will continue to conduct TPC tests throughout the year, alongside simulator work and trackside support."

This marks an important step for the Italian driver, who summarized his track impressions after the activity. "It's an incredible feeling to drive an F1 car on track. The last two days have been amazing, and I learned so much across a wide range of F1 driving aspects," Fornaroli commented. "Even though these cars are quite different from the current generation, accumulating time behind the wheel is still essential for my role as a Reserve Driver, as well as helping me with the correlation between real driving and the simulator, as part of my team support role. I thank everyone at McLaren for this opportunity; I'm excited to be back in the car and continue growing as a driver. Now, it's off to Japan to support the team during the race weekend."

Alunni Bravi on Fornaroli's Qualities: "Consistency and Rapid Ability to Learn and Perform"

Also commenting on Fornaroli's growth process was Alessandro Alunni Bravi, McLaren's Chief Business Affairs Officer. "The team is very satisfied with Leonardo's test in Barcelona. He made fantastic progress on track, familiarizing himself with F1 incredibly quickly and continuing to demonstrate the qualities we've seen throughout his successful junior career: consistency and a rapid ability to learn and perform." The Italian manager emphasized the importance of these tests for preparing Fornaroli as a reserve driver and for his overall development within the McLaren driver program. "Congratulations to Leo for completing his first F1 test – it's something he'll never forget. We look forward to seeing his continuous progress in car and simulator work, as he will continue to test intensively this year."