McLaren praises talent eyeing F1 seat: 'Showed great maturity'
Photo: Race Pictures
12:01, 09 Aug
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella continues to be impressed by reserve and development driver Leonardo Fornaroli. The young Italian's management is also working on securing a seat for him in Formula 1 next year.
After being crowned Formula 2 champion last year, Fornaroli joined McLaren. He is currently the Woking-based team's reserve and development driver.
This year, Fornaroli has already taken part in multiple FP1 sessions with the British outfit. He has driven the MCL40 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Hungaroring so far.
In McLaren's Q&A, Stella was complimentary of his compatriot. He said: "Leo is showing great maturity in his approach to F1. So far, he’s always been very meticulous and attentive in the run-up to each test, never overdoing it but instead working step by step with great diligence.
"Our engineers are very pleased with how he is progressing at every test and how he performed in the two Free Practice sessions he took part in, first in Barcelona and then in Budapest.
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"I believe his journey through our Driver Development Programme is going exactly as it should, and we hope it will soon offer him further opportunities for growth."
Photo: Race Pictures
Fornaroli in talks with Haas to replace Ocon
Fornaroli is eyeing a seat at Haas F1 for next season, GPblog has learned. Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon must seriously consider that his tenure may be coming to an end.
This website understands that the Italian driver's management is actively trying to place the youngster at the American team, where he would partner British talent Oliver Bearman.
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McLaren supports the Italian in finding a seat at another team in the competition and would then loan him out.
Stella also previously said: "Leonardo is certainly an asset for Formula 1 in the future. Leonardo, we want him to drive, certainly. In the future, he may drive for McLaren Racing, but I think we should work together with Leonardo to explore possibilities in Formula 1."
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