McLaren Strengthens Its Driver Development Squad

This latest intake highlights McLaren’s commitment to scouting and developing South-European and global talents. The new signings join the papaya family at a critical stage for the team’s future pipeline.

Leonardo Fornaroli’s Impressive Rise

Leonardo Fornaroli, the newly crowned 2025 FIA Formula 2 Champion, joins McLaren fresh off a dominant season with four race wins and nine podium finishes. He completed back-to-back FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships, mirroring previous McLaren prospects like Oscar Piastri. The 20-year-old Italian has quickly become one of the most promising young drivers set for Formula 1.

Joining Fornaroli: Verschoor and Costoya

Alongside Fornaroli, McLaren announced signing Dutch Formula 2 race winner Richard Verschoor and Spanish Karting European Champion Christian Costoya. Verschoor brings strong multi-year F2 experience, while Costoya represents a key investment for McLaren’s karting to single-seater pathway, starting with the 2026 F4 Middle East Championship.

Mission and Support

Led by Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the McLaren Driver Development Programme provides extensive technical, coaching, and simulator support to maximize driver growth. The goal is to guide many juniors towards Formula 1, IndyCar, and the upcoming McLaren World Endurance Championship programme.

Prospects and Future Outlook

With the departure of some previous juniors, these three additions bolster McLaren’s talent pool. Fornaroli is expected to transition quickly into F1 testing and possibly FP1 sessions, continuing McLaren’s tradition of making successful driver graduations to the top level.