Formula 1 may gain another name coming from the junior categories in 2027, and Leonardo Fornaroli appears as a strong candidate for the category’s grid. The current McLaren reserve driver received strong praise from James Robinson, former head of Invicta Racing, who described the Italian as a ‘hidden gem’ and stated that ‘without a doubt’ he deserves a spot in F1.
Fornaroli won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in consecutive seasons, repeating a rare feat among rookies in the main feeder category to F1. Even so, the Italian was left out of the grid in 2026 and took on a reserve role at McLaren.
Robinson highlighted that few drivers have managed to win F2 in their debut year and placed Fornaroli alongside heavyweight names on the current grid: “Who won Formula 2 as a rookie? Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Leonardo Fornaroli. They are all exceptional drivers, and Leo is the anomaly for not being in Formula 1 now,” he said.
The former executive also recalled that Piastri also had to wait before debuting in the main category: “I will be very disappointed if Leo is not in a Formula 1 car next year,” Robinson said, emphasizing that he expects to see the Italian on the grid in 2027.
Besides the results, Robinson praised Fornaroli’s ability to handle pressure. According to him, the driver was the only one on the team to meet all the criteria evaluated by Invicta: “He has a unique ability to perform under pressure more than any driver I have ever seen,” he stated.
The executive also highlighted the Italian’s consistency during the F2 title campaign: “He qualified in the top 10 at every round last year. Even on tracks where he struggled a bit more, he managed to maximize the results,” he added.
Bortoleto, mentioned by Robinson, also received praise from the former Invicta head. The Brazilian won the F2 title in 2024 and subsequently signed with Sauber in 2025 and for the team’s transition towards Audi’s project in Formula 1 starting this year.
“Gabi is a truly special talent,” Robinson said. “He was able to unite the team around him and has intelligence well above average. I am sure he will have an incredible career in Formula 1 and I hope he wins many GPs and even a world championship,” he added.
The executive also highlighted Bortoleto’s growth throughout the 2024 season. After a difficult start, the Brazilian began to accumulate poles, podiums, and wins, including notable triumphs in Austria and Monza.
