Why McLaren may already have a ready-made Piastri successor at no extra cost

Piastri's decline is striking considering his performances in 2025. The Australian won seven Grands Prix, led the championship for much of the year and remained in contention until the Abu Dhabi finale, eventually finishing third, just 13 points behind teammante and champion Lando Norris.

His fourth season in Formula 1 has been a different story. The introduction of the new technical regulations has brought fresh challenges, with Piastri struggling to extract the same level of performance from the McLaren MCL40. Unlike its predecessor, which was widely regarded as the benchmark in 2025, this year's car has lost its status as the strongest on the grid, despite securing two Grand Prix victories.

Piastri has found it considerably harder to match Norris throughout 2026, a sharp contrast to the previous season, when the two McLaren drivers were regularly fighting for victories. The Australian has struggled to maintain the same level of performance from one weekend to the next, with the gap to his teammate becoming an increasingly significant concern.

McLaren have continued working with the Aussie to address his difficulties, but the improvements have yet to translate into a sustained turnaround. With Norris consistently setting the benchmark within the team, the pressure is growing on the Australian to prove that his disappointing season is only a temporary setback.

At present, there is no indication that McLaren are considering replacing Piastri or that the team has any pressing need to explore alternatives on the driver market. Nevertheless, another disappointing campaign in 2027 could raise questions about his long-term future, particularly if Norris continues to outperform him.

Fornaroli's credentials make him a particularly interesting name in this discussion. The 21-year-old followed his 2024 Formula 3 championship with the Formula 2 title in 2025, joining a select group of drivers to win both categories in consecutive seasons. Among those to achieve the same feat is Piastri himself.

McLaren subsequently brought Fornaroli into their driver development programme, appointing him as a reserve driver for 2026. He has already completed several Formula 1 tests and made two FP1 appearances, with further outings scheduled in Mexico and Brazil.

His next step is equally important. McLaren have confirmed that Fornaroli will compete in the World Endurance Championship with their new Hypercar programme in 2027, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while retaining his Formula 1 reserve role.

That arrangement allows McLaren to keep him racing competitively rather than leaving him restricted to simulator work and occasional F1 tests. It also gives the team another opportunity to assess his development before making any decisions about his long-term future.

Fornaroli's Hypercar programme should not be interpreted as evidence that McLaren are preparing to replace Piastri. The Australian has already demonstrated his ability to win races and challenge for a world championship, and one difficult season does not erase those achievements.

However, the timing is intriguing. By the end of 2027, McLaren will have another full season to assess Piastri's ability to adapt to the current regulations, while Fornaroli will have gained valuable experience competing in the prestigious World Endurance Championship, where he will also carry the responsibility of representing McLaren and helping establish the British manufacturer as a competitive force in the Hypercar category.

The Italian would still face a significant challenge stepping directly into a front-running Formula 1 team without previous Grand Prix starts. Yet if Piastri fails to recover his competitiveness next year, McLaren may find themselves considering an option they have spent the previous two seasons developing.

For now, Piastri remains the established driver and Fornaroli the promising prospect. What happens in 2027 could determine whether that distinction still holds in 2028.