Defending F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Champions McLaren have confirmed that 2025 F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward will share reserve driver duties for the 2026 season.
Fornaroli and O’Ward form a strong reserve driver line-up at McLaren F1
Leonardo Fornaroli has had a magnificent couple of years. The Italian took out the 2024 F3 championship with Trident despite not winning a single race. He would go on to win the F2 crown last year.
His campaigns have been a case of strong consistency and avoiding mistakes. Four victories and not qualifying outside the top 10 all year with Invicta in 2025 was very impressive.
Alex Dunne’s exit from McLaren last year has opened the door for the 21-year-old to get this opportunity.
McLaren added that Fornaroli “will also undertake an intensive testing and sim programme to aid his development and provide invaluable support to the Formula 1 team in an unprecedented era of new regulations”.
For a third consecutive campaign, Pato O’Ward will be a McLaren reserve F1 driver. The Mexican had his best season in IndyCar last year, finishing 2nd for the team.
In five of the last six seasons he has ended up in the top 5 in the championship. He will be hoping to take his first crown in 2026. A big goal is also the Indy 500, a race he has been so close to winning on multiple occasions.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Businesses Affairs Officer, McLaren Racing:
“The team are pleased to confirm its Driver Development Programme line up alongside their racing and testing programmes for 2026.
“Within this, it’s great for Leonardo to step up into the Reserve Driver role for the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as part of his development with us, with Pato O’Ward also continuing in this role.
“We have selected an incredibly talented group of nine drivers, which shows the health of our talent pipeline. We are all excited to see their development this season as we create professional drivers across all aspects of racing, progressing towards Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry.”
Leonardo Fornaroli, Reserve, Test and Development Driver, McLaren Mastercard F1 Team:
“I’m thrilled to be stepping into an extended role with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team as Reserve Driver as part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. It’s an exciting next step in my journey, and I’m looking forward to contributing to such a successful, Championship-winning team this season. A big thank you to Zak, Andrea and Alessandro for this opportunity.”
Pato O’Ward, Reserve Driver, McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, and Driver, Arrow McLaren:
“I am excited to continue in my role as Reserve Driver for the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, alongside my primary duties in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with Arrow McLaren. I’ve learned an incredible amount testing and driving F1 cars over the past few years, so I am looking forward to this continued growth and development.”
With Leonardo Fornaroli and Pato O’Ward sharing the reserve driver role at McLaren in 2026, it is likely both will run in the mandatory rookie programme in FP1 sessions during the upcoming F1 year.
