F2 champion Fornaroli to test Haas machinery at Jerez in 2027 grid push

Leonardo Fornaroli will test a Haas Formula 1 car at Jerez on Wednesday and Thursday as part of a two-day Testing of Previous Cars programme, with the reigning Formula 2 champion targeting a place on the F1 grid in 2027.

The 21-year-old Italian will drive last year’s Haas machinery at the Spanish circuit, with the American team’s reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa also expected to participate in the session.

The Jerez run comes less than a week after Fornaroli made his F1 session debut with McLaren in FP1 at the Barcelona Grand Prix, where he finished fifth and just 0.8 seconds off pacesetter George Russell — a performance that drew warm praise from McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

“I’m very happy with his attitude, speed and consistency,” Stella said. “Leonardo is definitely an asset for Formula 1 and we want him to drive. He could certainly do that for McLaren Racing in the future, but at the same time we are working together to explore every opportunity that may arise in Formula 1.”

That openness from McLaren signals that Fornaroli’s path to the grid may not run exclusively through his current employer. Haas represents one credible avenue: while Oliver Bearman appears likely to retain his seat, Esteban Ocon’s future at the team is under pressure following a difficult 2026 campaign.

Fornaroli claimed the Formula 2 title last season and has quickly established himself as one of the most coveted young talents in the F1 pipeline. The Jerez test will give Haas a direct look at a driver who has already demonstrated competitive pace at the highest level.