Leonardo Fornaroli leads the F2 championship, defying conventional wisdom by prioritizing consistency over race wins—a strategy that led him to an F3 title without a single victory. This unique approach could fast-track him to F1, despite not being affiliated with a team.
Why it matters
Fornaroli's calm, analytical approach to racing, focusing on scoring points rather than risking everything for a win, sets him apart. This mindset has proven effective in feeder series, where high competition makes consistency key to title contention.
The big picture
Fornaroli, who initially disliked motorsport, fell in love with karting after seeing his father race. His junior career, though not marked by numerous wins, showcased consistent front-running. He competed against future F1 drivers like Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Isack Hadjar, recognizing their talent early on.
His two seasons with Trident in F3 culminated in a 2024 title, remarkably achieved without a race win. He secured seven podiums and finished in the top 12 in every race, demonstrating exceptional consistency. This experience, he says, taught him to stay calm under immense pressure and focus on the main goal.
The details
- F3 Title Strategy: Fornaroli's 2024 F3 championship was won purely on consistency, securing 7 podiums and top-12 finishes in all races. He believes this method is crucial in highly competitive feeder series.
- F2 Rookie Season: Despite leading the F2 standings, Fornaroli admits to early mistakes in tyre management, pitstops, and strategy due to inexperience. However, he has shown significant improvement, culminating in his first F2 sprint race win at Silverstone, breaking a four-year winless streak across various championships. He then secured two more swift victories at Spa and Hungary.
- Room for Improvement: He identifies enhancing collaboration with his engineer on setup choices and providing better car feedback as key areas for further development.
- F1 Aspirations: While not currently affiliated with an F1 team, Fornaroli is having conversations, signaling interest from top tiers. He remains focused on winning the F2 championship but is open to a reserve F1 role alongside another F2 season if he doesn't secure the title this year, a rare but potentially strategic move.
What's next
As the F2 season heads into the summer break, Fornaroli holds a 17-point lead. His focus remains on the present, aiming to clinch the championship. His long-term goal is F1, where he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Italian racing legends and potentially bring Italy its first F1 drivers' world title since Alberto Ascari in the 1950s.