Looking for an F1 Team: Where can this top talent land in '26?

Leonardo Fornaroli, the main contender to become champion in Formula 2, is looking for a seat in Formula 1. But options are scarce, as revealed by a roundup from GPblog.

Leonardo Fornaroli is getting closer and closer to the title in Formula 2. As champion, the Italian is then forced to graduate the junior racing series and thus can't spend another year in the  step up to Formula 1, so it is necessary to look elsewhere. The driver's focus - who won the F3 championship last year - is to find a place in Formula 1. 

But it's not that simple a request. Realistically, only Racing Bulls and Alpine are the only destinations available for him. GPblog understands, though, that Red Bull has not shown interest in the Italian talent.

In Franco Colapinto, Jack Doohan and Paul Aron Alpine has found its three candidates who are vying for the drive alongside Pierre Gasly for 2026. Fornaroli was indeed spotted in Baku in the hospitality of the French team, but apparently, not much should be read into this.

GPblog understands that Fornaroli hopes to secure himself a spot in a Formula 1 team, as a development and reserve driver. The goal is set with 2026 as a learning year, with the ultimate purpose of finding a full-time drive by the 2027 season.  

As of last August Fornaroli counts with a new manager who's currently gauging the interest levels from various F1 teams, with 'the big four' McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing not looking particularly enticed by Fornaroli.

The Italian's name is also not being mentioned at Aston Martin nor Racing Bulls.

At Cadillac, Colton Herta is fulfills the role of test driver, but he hasn't got a superlicense - unlike Fornaroli. The Americans still need a reserve driver. Maybe this unlocks a door.

Haas currently has Ryo Hirakawa, from Toyota's driver development programme, filling up the reserve driver role. The team owned by Gene Haas is expected to intensify cooperation with the Japanese brand, so it seems unlikely that there is room for Fornaroli.

Audi, however, is looking for a reserve and test driver. A move to the German team would be very logical, after Audi already brought in Gabriel Bortoleto (the F2 champion of 2024, ed.) who, like Fornaroli, drove for Invicta Racing.

There seems to be no place at Williams, either. There, Luke Browning is for all effects and purposes the team's reserve driver.

Want to know more about the latest news in Formula 1? Watch GPblog's Formula 1 podcast on YouTube. A new episode discussing the ins and outs of F1 is available twice a week.