McLaren Wants to Loan Fornaroli to Haas for 2027 Seat

McLaren is exploring a loan deal that would send reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli to Haas for the 2027 season. The reigning Formula 2 champion recently impressed the American team during a Test of Previous Car session and is now considered a genuine contender to partner Oliver Bearman.

Why it matters:

McLaren sees Fornaroli as a future grand prix driver and is determined to loan him rather than repeat the permanent release of Gabriel Bortoleto to Audi. A temporary move to Haas would give the Italian valuable F1 race weekend experience while allowing McLaren to retain control of a promising talent, offering Haas a race-ready rookie in the process.

The details:

• Fornaroli completed a TPC test with Haas last week, earning praise from team principal Ayao Komatsu, who highlighted the thoroughness of McLaren's young driver program.
• Unlike Bortoleto, who was fully released to Sauber ahead of its Audi takeover, McLaren wants to maintain its relationship with Fornaroli through a loan arrangement.
• Esteban Ocon currently holds the seat, but his long-term Haas future is unclear despite his public dismissal of exit rumors in Austria.
• Ferrari junior Rafael Camara is also in contention, and Komatsu confirmed Haas intends to run further tests with other F1 academy drivers before making any decisions.

What's next:

Haas is taking a methodical approach to its 2027 lineup, with multiple young drivers still to evaluate through upcoming TPC programs. If Fornaroli ultimately secures the nod, McLaren would keep a valued prospect within its ecosystem while Haas gains a driver already steeped in a front-running team's culture. The coming weeks of private testing are likely to prove decisive in shaping the grid's next wave of talent.