McLaren's Fornaroli to Make Second FP1 Appearance in Hungary

McLaren junior and reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will replace Oscar Piastri for FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his second practice appearance of the season following his Barcelona debut. The 21-year-old Italian is getting another early look at the MCL40 as McLaren evaluates him for a potential future race seat.

Why it matters:

Fornaroli's rapid return to a grand prix weekend underlines McLaren's faith in its academy star. The Woking team is bringing significant upgrades to Budapest as it tries to close the gap to Mercedes and respond to Ferrari's cornering pace, and Fornaroli's feedback will be measured against that benchmark. Team principal Andrea Stella has also confirmed the squad is actively pursuing race opportunities for him elsewhere on the grid, with Haas's second seat now a serious possibility amid uncertainty over Esteban Ocon's future.

The Details:

• Fornaroli first drove Lando Norris' MCL40 in Barcelona and will now get his first taste of Piastri's car at the Hungaroring.
• McLaren is introducing a major upgrade package in Hungary, where Ferrari's SF-26 has recently proved faster through high-downforce corners.
• Haas is also fielding a rookie, with Toyota protege Ryo Hirakawa stepping in for Oliver Bearman during FP1.
• Alpine reserve Paul Aron will make his third FP1 appearance of the year, replacing Franco Colapinto after previous rookie sessions on loan at Audi in Barcelona and Austria.
• Teams must run rookie drivers in four FP1 sessions per season, with two allocated to each race car.

What's next:

The Budapest weekend is a pivotal test for both Fornaroli and McLaren's latest upgrades. If the Italian continues to impress against Piastri's baseline, a 2027 race seat at Haas or another midfield team could move within reach. For McLaren, the update package must deliver tangible gains to keep its championship hopes alive against resurgent rivals.