Fornaroli signs with McLaren’s academy for 2026 as Woking reloads its talent bench
McLaren’s junior ranks are getting a serious refresh. Fresh off sealing the Formula 2 title in Qatar, Leonardo Fornaroli has put pen to paper with the Woking outfit, joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme for 2026.
The 20-year-old Italian has been one of the most efficient climbers on the ladder: FIA F3 champion in 2024, F2 champion the very next year. Four wins, five podiums and a cool head under pressure delivered the crown, and now he steps into McLaren’s orbit with a test and development brief — including the prospect of TPC mileage during 2026.
“I’m incredibly proud to be joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme after another successful year on track,” Fornaroli 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.”
McLaren’s announcement wasn’t a one‑driver headline. Richard Verschoor, the seasoned Dutchman and current F2 front‑runner, also signs on. A veteran presence in the category since 2021, Verschoor brings a different profile — race‑hardened, consistent, and well versed in the grind of an F2 campaign. His exact duties weren’t detailed, but the message was clear: he’s in the system.
“I’m delighted to be part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme,” Verschoor said. “It’s a special moment, and I’m grateful for McLaren’s support in allowing me to continue my development within the programme.”
They’ll sit near the top of a ladder that increasingly feeds more than one paddock. McLaren has made no secret of its multi‑series ambitions; the pipeline now covers its Formula 1 team, the IndyCar arm and the incoming World Endurance Championship effort. That gives the programme flexibility — and its drivers options. Pato O’Ward is already the poster boy for cross‑pollination, and you can see the logic in adding a title‑winning young gun alongside an experienced pair of hands.
Further down, there’s a clear reset too. Multiple karting champion Christian Costoya steps up to cars after clinching the 2024 European Karting Championship. He’ll debut in the 2026 F4 Middle East Championship at Yas Marina. The team has also brought in Ella Stevens and Ella Häkkinen at karting level, with Ella Lloyd spanning F1 Academy and F4, and Matteo De Palo joining at F3 level for 2026. Belgian prospect Dries Van Langendonck stays on after entering the fold in 2024.
It comes after a bit of churn. Brando Badoer, Martinius Stenshorne and Ugo Ugochukwu all departed last month, while Alex Dunne left earlier following a disagreement over his next step after a strong F2 season — notably, an unwillingness to switch his focus to IndyCar.
McLaren framed the arrivals as part of a broader push to future‑proof its roster. In their words: welcoming Fornaroli, Verschoor and Costoya means “two of Formula 2’s current leading drivers” plus a “proven karting champion” joining a pipeline designed to supply all of the team’s expanding racing programmes. The brief isn’t subtle: develop, test, and be ready — wherever the opportunity opens.
From McLaren’s perspective, Fornaroli is the coup. Back‑to‑back titles in F3 and F2 is a calling card you can’t ignore, and it’s a pattern the team knows well after Oscar Piastri made the same climb in successive years on the junior ladder. Fornaroli hasn’t turned a wheel in F1 yet, but his CV already reads like a driver who does the basics right and sharpens the edges quickly.
Verschoor, meanwhile, looks like insurance you’d be happy to cash. He’s got the miles, the racecraft, and none of the wide‑eyed rookie syndrome, which makes him a clever fit for a programme that might need plug‑and‑play drivers across multiple series.
McLaren’s academy has swung between feast and famine over the past few years. This feels like a purposeful restock — a title‑winner to build around, a safe pair of hands to benchmark against, and a new wave at the base of the pyramid. With 2026 regulation changes looming and calendars only getting busier, having a bench that can step into F1 testing, IndyCar seats or WEC prototypes isn’t just nice to have. It’s strategy.
The names are in. Now comes the mileage.
