McLaren adds F2 champion Fornaroli to young driver programme

McLaren has moved decisively to secure its future driver pipeline, announcing a trio of signings headlined by newly-crowned FIA Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli.

The 19-year-old Italian, fresh off completing a rare F3–F2 title double, joins the team’s development ranks alongside fellow F1 frontrunner, Dutchman Richard Verschoor, and rising Spanish karting star Christian Costoya.

The trio joins McLaren’s previously announced rostrum of young talents that includes Dries van Langendonck, Ella Lloyd, Matteo De Palo, Ella Stevens, Ella Häkkinen.

A Champion Finds His Home

For Fornaroli, whose push through the ranks mirrors the path of fellow McLaren graduate Oscar Piastri, who completed the same F3–F2 sweep in 2020–21, the move brings clarity to a situation that, until this week, seemed oddly uncertain: despite dominating F2, the Invicta Racing charger had no formal affiliation with any Formula 1 outfit.

For a driver whose results should have made his trajectory obvious, the lack of backing cast an unnecessary shadow over his next steps – precisely the kind of limbo that undermines the supposed purpose of winning a junior series.

“McLaren Racing are delighted to welcome two of Formula 2’s current leading drivers in this year’s champion Leonardo Fornaroli and former championship contender and fellow front-runner Richard Verschoor, as well as proven karting champion, Christian Costoya, to the McLaren Racing Driver Development Programme,” said Alessandro Alunni Bravi, McLaren Racing’s Chief Business Affairs Officer.

“All three talented drivers have shown great race craft with multiple wins this season, alongside a number of impressive performances in their respective championships.

“By welcoming Christian to the programme alongside long-standing member, Dries Van Langendonck, we now also have two of the most promising drivers coming out of karting.

• Read also: Ella Häkkinen joins McLaren’s driver development programme

“It is a key priority that we continue to develop our talent pipeline to provide options for all of our expanding racing teams.

“We look forward to working closely with all our drivers in 2026 as they continue their individual development at various stages of their career with the support of the programme through a wide range of testing and progression opportunities across all of our racing series.”

Rising Stars and Shifting Seats

Fornaroli and Verschoor effectively take over from Alex Dunne, whose surprising exit from McLaren’s young driver programme last month after two strong FP1 outings left the team with open slots.

Costoya, meanwhile, will transition into single-seaters in 2026 with an F4 Middle East debut at Yas Marina, making him the latest karting prodigy to enter McLaren’s long-term talent structure.

As for Fornaroli, the sense of relief and excitement was unmistakable.

"I’m incredibly proud to be joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme after another successful year on track,” the Italian said.

"Winning both the FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles has been an important step in my journey, and I’m motivated to take the next step in my development through the programme as I work toward my ultimate goal of racing at the highest level.

“I’m very grateful to McLaren for this opportunity, and to everyone who has supported me throughout my career so far. I can’t wait to get started and work closely with the rest of the team.”

For McLaren, it’s a strategic investment. For Fornaroli, it’s long-awaited stability. And for the wider junior ladder, it’s a reminder that even champions sometimes need a team to finally make their future feel real.

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