McLaren announce new lineup in official team statement
McLaren have officially lifted the curtain on a refreshed driver structure for the 2026 Formula 1 season, confirming a strengthened reserve and development lineup as the reigning champions continue to plan for both the present and the future.
While there is no change at the sharp end of the grid, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked in as McLaren’s race drivers for at least the next two seasons, the Woking-based outfit has moved decisively to reinforce its talent pipeline behind the scenes. Following the departure of Alex Dunne from the driver development programme last year, McLaren have responded by expanding their junior ranks and rewarding proven success.
Central to the announcement is the promotion of 2025 Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who has been named a reserve driver for the McLaren Formula 1 team for 2026. Alongside this role, the Italian will continue his work as a test and development driver within the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
Fornaroli’s rise has been rapid. When he sealed the F2 title last November at just 21 years old, he did so without the support of a Formula 1 academy, making his championship triumph even more eye-catching. McLaren quickly moved to secure his signature soon after, and his latest promotion now places him firmly on the radar as a potential future F1 contender.
As a reserve driver, Fornaroli is expected to be involved in simulator duties, testing work and potentially Free Practice 1 appearances during the season. These outings would not only give him valuable mileage in contemporary F1 machinery, but also serve as a shop window to other teams across the paddock monitoring the next generation of talent.
Reacting to the news, Fornaroli described the opportunity as a major step forward in his career, expressing his excitement at joining a championship-winning organisation in an expanded capacity and thanking McLaren’s senior leadership for placing their trust in him.
He will share reserve driver responsibilities with a familiar face, as Pato O’Ward has been retained in the role for 2026. The Mexican driver will once again balance his Formula 1 commitments with a full-time campaign in the NTT IndyCar Series, where he continues to race for Arrow McLaren. O’Ward has already gained extensive experience in McLaren’s F1 machinery through testing and practice sessions in recent years, and he made clear that he sees the continuation of this role as a valuable part of his ongoing development.
In addition to confirming their reserve drivers, McLaren also unveiled the full lineup for the 2026 Driver Development Programme, underlining the breadth of their long-term vision. Among the most eye-catching inclusions is Ella Häkkinen, the 14-year-old daughter of two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Häkkinen. She will embark on an intensive Formula 4 testing programme during 2026 as part of her preparation for competitive racing in 2027.
McLaren’s commitment to supporting female talent continues elsewhere in the programme, with Ella Lloyd set to remain in F1 Academy with Rodin Motorsport, while Ella Stevens will also compete in the series under the McLaren banner, driving the McLaren Oxagon entry. These moves reinforce the team’s stated aim of creating more accessible pathways into top-level motorsport.
Rounding out the development roster are Christian Costoya, Matteo De Palo, Dries Van Langendonck and Richard Verschoor, giving McLaren a total of nine drivers across various categories.
The programme is overseen by Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who highlighted the strength and diversity of the lineup, noting that it reflects the health of McLaren’s talent pipeline and its ambition to produce professional drivers capable of succeeding in Formula 1, IndyCar and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship project.
For McLaren, the message is clear: while today’s success is secured, tomorrow’s future is already being carefully built.
