McLaren reserve driver Fornaroli set for test outing with Haas

McLaren reserve driver and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will test for the Haas Formula 1 team this week.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Fornaroli will drive the American team's 2025 challenger, the VF-25, during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) day at the Jerez Circuit in Spain on Wednesday the 17th and Thursday the 18th of June.

Also in attendance at the test will be Haas' reserve driver, Ryo Hirakawa, who jumps back into F1 machinery after finishing third last weekend at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

A statement released by Haas read: "TGR Haas F1 Team has the capacity to test and appraise drivers through its TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) program.

"Leonardo Fornaroli, the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Champion, has subsequently been offered the opportunity to drive its VF-25 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Spain, 17-18 June, with TGR Haas F1 Team reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa also in attendance at the test."

Fornaroli took back-to-back titles in F3 and F2 between 2024-2025, with his success in the latter category catching the attention of McLaren, and he was signed as one of the Woking-based team's reserve drivers for this season.

Having sampled McLaren's 2023 car earlier this year, the Italian got his first-ever Free Practice 1 outing last weekend ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Taking over reigning World Champion Lando Norris' MCL40 for the one-hour session, Fornaroli posted the fifth fastest time and was only six-tenths behind Oscar Piastri in the sister McLaren.

"Was amazing, incredible feeling, I was very emotional before the session," said Fornaroli after his FP1 outing.

"First official F1 session, sharing the track with all the drivers that I'm watching on the TV every race weekend, saying 'those guys are amazing, super fast'. To stay on track with them was incredible."