McLaren has officially confirmed its reserve driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season, appointing reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli alongside returning IndyCar star Pato O’Ward. The announcement forms part of a broader reveal of the team’s comprehensive Driver Development Programme, which now features nine talented drivers across multiple racing disciplines.

Fornaroli Steps Up After F2 Title Triumph

Leonardo Fornaroli’s appointment as McLaren’s F1 reserve driver represents a swift progression for the 21-year-old Italian, who secured the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2025. The young driver joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme in December, shortly after clinching the title in Qatar, initially signing as a test and development driver.

His role has now been expanded to include official reserve driver duties, positioning him as the primary backup for race drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri throughout the 2026 season. The timing proves particularly significant given the major regulatory changes coming to Formula 1 in 2026, with new power unit regulations set to reshape the competitive landscape.

The Italian driver expressed his gratitude to McLaren’s leadership, adding: « A big thank you to Zak, Andrea, and Alessandro for this opportunity. »

Intensive Development Programme Ahead

Fornaroli’s responsibilities extend beyond simply being on standby for race weekends. McLaren has outlined an intensive testing and simulator programme designed to accelerate his development and ensure he can provide valuable feedback to the team’s engineering department.

This comprehensive approach reflects McLaren’s commitment to properly preparing its reserve drivers for potential race opportunities. The simulator work will be particularly crucial as the team navigates the transition to 2026’s revolutionary technical regulations, which feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.

At just 21 years old, Fornaroli arrived at McLaren without the backing of any F1 team despite his championship success—a situation that made McLaren’s swift recruitment all the more significant. The Woking-based team recognized an opportunity to secure a proven talent who had demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure across a full championship campaign.

O’Ward Continues Dual-Role Commitment

While Fornaroli represents fresh blood in McLaren’s reserve driver lineup, Pato O’Ward brings valuable continuity and experience. The Mexican driver will continue balancing his reserve driver responsibilities with his primary role racing for Arrow McLaren in the NTT IndyCar Series.

O’Ward has served as McLaren’s F1 reserve driver for the past two seasons, building substantial experience with the team’s Formula 1 machinery through testing sessions and Free Practice 1 appearances. Since 2022, he has participated in five FP1 sessions, gaining crucial exposure to modern Grand Prix cars while maintaining his competitive edge in IndyCar.

The 25-year-old’s dual commitment highlights the increasingly interconnected nature of McLaren’s racing operations across different series. As one of Arrow McLaren’s leading lights in IndyCar—where he has raced for six seasons—O’Ward represents a proven performer ready to step into an F1 cockpit should circumstances require it.

A Robust Development Pipeline

Beyond the reserve driver appointments, McLaren unveiled its complete Driver Development Programme for 2026, showcasing the depth and breadth of its talent cultivation efforts. The nine-driver roster spans multiple racing disciplines and developmental stages, from karting graduates to experienced single-seater competitors.

The programme is led by Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who emphasized the strategic importance of this multi-faceted approach: « 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. »

Alunni Bravi continued: « 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. »

The Full Development Roster

Strategic Significance for McLaren

The announcement of McLaren’s reserve drivers and development programme comes at a pivotal moment for the team. Fresh off securing the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with Lando Norris claiming the Drivers’ title, McLaren enters 2026 as the team to beat—but faces the challenge of maintaining that advantage through a major regulatory reset.

Having two capable reserve drivers provides important insurance as the team navigates this transition period. While Norris and Piastri form one of F1’s strongest driver lineups, the unpredictable nature of motorsport means backup options remain essential. Both Fornaroli and O’Ward bring different strengths to this role.

Fornaroli offers youth, recent competitive success, and intensive integration into McLaren’s F1 operations. His F2 championship demonstrated not just speed but also consistency and racecraft—qualities that translate well to Formula 1. The intensive testing and simulator work planned for 2026 should ensure he’s race-ready should an opportunity arise.

Building for Multiple Futures

The breadth of McLaren’s Driver Development Programme reveals strategic thinking that extends well beyond Formula 1. With entries confirmed or planned in F1, IndyCar, F1 Academy, and the World Endurance Championship, McLaren is building a truly multi-disciplinary racing operation.

This approach serves multiple purposes. It creates various pathways for drivers with different skill sets and interests, recognizing that not every talented racer is suited for—or interested in—Formula 1. It also ensures McLaren can draw on relevant experience across its programmes, with knowledge and best practices flowing between series.

The inclusion of three female drivers—Häkkinen, Lloyd, and Stevens—demonstrates McLaren’s commitment to diversity in motorsport. By supporting drivers through F1 Academy and structured testing programmes, the team is actively working to address the historical underrepresentation of women in racing’s upper echelons.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As McLaren prepares for the 2026 season, the reserve driver announcement provides clarity and confidence. Teams need reliable backup options, particularly during a year of significant technical change when the learning curve will be steep and the potential for unexpected developments heightened.

Fornaroli will likely receive FP1 opportunities throughout the season, giving him valuable track time in current machinery and helping him understand the nuances of Formula 1 operations. These sessions serve dual purposes: developing the reserve driver while providing the team with fresh perspectives and additional data gathering opportunities.

For O’Ward, the continued involvement keeps alive his Formula 1 aspirations while allowing him to focus on IndyCar success with Arrow McLaren. Should a full-time F1 opportunity eventually arise—whether at McLaren or elsewhere—his ongoing exposure to modern F1 cars maintains his viability as a candidate.

The team’s comprehensive approach to driver development, spanning multiple racing categories and developmental stages, positions McLaren to remain competitive across its racing portfolio for years to come. With championship-winning momentum from 2025, robust technical resources, and now a clearly structured talent pipeline, McLaren enters 2026 as one of motorsport’s most complete organizations.