[Saba Sports News] McLaren confirmed that Oscar Piastri will step aside for the first free practice session of this weekend’s F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, with junior driver Leonardo Fornaroli taking over the cockpit for FP1 duties. This marks Fornaroli’s second official race weekend outing with McLaren this season and forms a key part of the team’s compliance with F1 regulations surrounding rookie driver participation in practice sessions. Under FIA rules, every squad must field rookie drivers for a set number of practice sessions each campaign.
At the Hungaroring, McLaren have opted to let the 21-year-old Fornaroli drive the MCL40. Piastri will return for FP2, with no disruption to his upcoming qualifying and Grand Prix commitments.Fornaroli claimed the F2 championship last year. However, amid limited availability of full-time F1 race seats, he is not contesting a complete championship campaign this season. Instead, he is focusing on testing and simulator work as he bids to secure a full-time F1 race seat for 2027.
Alongside his role as a McLaren junior, he has carried out multiple test runs in older machinery for Haas. He completed his maiden FP1 session at the Spanish Grand Prix back in June. Being handed another driving opportunity demonstrates McLaren’s ongoing investment in his development.
The F2 champion’s latest F1 outing represents institutional junior development rather than a signal of formal promotion. It reflects the team’s recognition of the F2 title-winner’s ability and its driver reserve strategy, yet it does not mean Fornaroli has locked down a full-time race seat for the 2027 season.