How Leo Fornaroli prepared to make his FP1 debut in Barcelona this weekend

Leo Fornaroli takes a deep breath and sits down. In many ways, this is just another day for the Italian: drive, debrief, media interviews, head home. Except it isn’t just any other day - it’s the realisation of a childhood dream and years of commitment and sacrifice, all leading up to this: his first Formula 1 test.

But even in this scenario, having achieved a major milestone in his fledgling career, he remains calm and collected. There’s an air of the old adage: never too high, never too low. He’s focused on what he did well and what he can improve, rather than patting himself on the back. Although he does add that among the aims for the day was to “enjoy it”, which, of course, he did.

“It is a dream come true to drive this car,” he said after completing his first F1 test, in our 2023 car, the MCL60, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in March. “It is different compared to previous cars I have driven - it required some time to get used to, but I feel like I am developing well and improving. I am pleased with what we have been doing together.

“It was not easy, but I managed to get used to everything. I still need to improve and better understand how to drive the car faster, but we made some good progress. We did a lot of great work with the team.

“We focused a lot on being consistent and just enjoying it. It was important for me not to overcomplicate it too much at this stage. It was a lot to learn compared to what I was used to, so we decided to keep it simple, and I think this was a very good approach.”

This weekend, at the same circuit where he first drove a Formula 1 car, Leo will tick off another key milestone in his journey, as he makes his first appearance in an F1 session, following confirmation that he will replace Lando Norris in Free Practice 1 at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Leo has been preparing for this moment since he joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in December 2025, following back-to-back Formula 2 and Formula 3 titles. In the months since, he has logged countless hours in the simulator, analysed extensive data and onboard footage, and undertaken a structured physical fitness programme. But nothing is quite like driving an F1 car in real life.

He has now completed three F1 tests: the first in Barcelona, the second at Silverstone, one of his favourite circuits, and the third at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, a track he experienced for the first time. All were completed as part of the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, driving the 2023 McLaren MCL60.

The first laps, he admits, weren’t the smoothest.

“Pretty shocking,” he says, laughing, when asked to describe his first few laps in an F1 car. “I hadn’t driven a race car for three months, since December 2025, so I had to get back up to speed and get used to a lot of new things.

“These cars have so much grip, braking power, G-force, and speed – nothing can properly prepare you for that. I wasn’t used to it, and it tires you out a lot. But gradually, as you complete more mileage, you adapt, and it becomes manageable.”

Very quickly, once he had re-adjusted to driving a single-seater, his pace and confidence built. By the end of his first test, he was already working through more complex programmes, including qualifying-style runs.

“Even in that first test, run by run, I was getting more comfortable with the car and gaining a better understanding of how to drive it. We started quite conservatively with the balance, and then we started becoming more aggressive, working on qualifying setups with lower fuel.”

Between tests, he has spent a lot of time at the McLaren factory in Woking, mostly with the TPC team, focusing on his own development and preparing for future tests, but he has also been exposed to the race team.

Both environments serve different purposes: one is tailored to his progression at his own pace, the other is designed to expose him to the intensity and structure of a live race operation.

“The journey has been really full on so far, but in a good way,” he says. “We have spent a lot of hours on the simulator, but we have also done some more physical work - basically, anything that can help me improve, whether it is on or off the track.

“I am at the McLaren factory with them every week, which shows how important my development is to them – the development of young drivers in general. This world is completely new to me, and I am working with a lot more people than I am used to, but they are making everything easy and simple to understand, and I am really happy to be with the team.”

Leo has now attended several races with the team in person, including the Japanese and Canadian Grands Prix, but this will be his first experience behind the wheel on an F1 race weekend. His primary objective will be to gain experience and continue learning, but he will also contribute to the team’s test programme with the MCL40.

“The relationships I’ve made within the team are really important when you are out on track,” he says. “I get on really well with everyone, and that makes you feel more comfortable when you are in the car.

“I have been given a lot of opportunities to learn and prepare for this: time in the simulator, in the car at TPC tests, and being at races, learning how Lando and Oscar work and how they drive the car.”

Leo has impressed the team with his work ethic, positive attitude, and grounded approach. Before leaving the circuit, he walks around and shakes hands with everyone. A simple but important gesture. He embodies the “sweep the floor” mentality the team values - willing to contribute in every area.

“It is really important to learn how an F1 team like McLaren works,” he says. “It is super important for drivers, when they are getting closer to Formula 1, to have opportunities like this - to work directly with the team and to drive Formula 1 cars. It is the best learning experience you can have as a young driver.”