Leonardo Fornaroli is set to step into the cockpit of the Haas VF-25 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on 17–18 June. The outing comes during a dedicated Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) session, offering drivers the chance to familiarise themselves with machinery from a past season. Fornaroli’s appearance in the VF-25 marks a further expansion of his experience behind the wheel of a modern Formula 1® car.
Fornaroli joined McLaren as its reserve driver for the 2026 season after claiming the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Championship title. His rapid progress did not go unnoticed, and earlier this year he had the opportunity to sample McLaren’s 2023 car. That outing laid the groundwork for his official Free Practice 1 debut at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, where he took the wheel of Lando Norris’s MCL40.
On that Barcelona weekend, Fornaroli recorded the fifth-fastest time in the session, finishing 0.6 seconds adrift of Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren. His performance caught the attention of several paddock observers keen to see how a reigning Formula 2 champion might adapt to the demands of Formula 1® machinery. The upcoming test with Haas will provide yet another reference point for his growing résumé.
The Testing of Previous Cars format gives teams an opportunity to run older machines without the constraints of race-weekend parc fermé restrictions. For a team like Haas, the session allows engineers to revisit the VF-25’s data and assess its behaviour under different track conditions. Meanwhile, Fornaroli will enjoy the chance to log valuable mileage and compare the VF-25’s handling to his earlier experience in the MCL40.
Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa is scheduled to share track time alongside Fornaroli across the two-day test. Hirakawa, who has served the team in a support role, brings his own familiarity with the VF-25 and will help split the programme between the two drivers. The shared workload ensures that both can gather a meaningful amount of running, while Haas can build a detailed picture of the car’s strengths and areas for improvement.
For Fornaroli, who will officially join McLaren’s reserve ranks next year, this outing with Haas underscores the collaborative nature of modern Formula 1® testing arrangements. Sitting in the Haas car offers a fresh perspective on car balance, aerodynamic response and tyre management, which could serve him well when he returns to McLaren machinery later in the season. It also gives Haas another pair of hands to collect information ahead of the next generation of regulations.
Looking ahead, the data collected in Jerez may prove useful for both Fornaroli’s personal development and the team’s own reference library. While the VF-25 no longer competes on race weekends, the lessons drawn from running it can inform future performance targets. Fornaroli can add more laps to his growing tally of F1® experience, strengthening his credentials as he prepares for expanded duties in 2026.
The mid-season TPC days represent a valuable window for drivers and teams alike. Fornaroli and Hirakawa, sharing the VF-25 over two days, will showcase their adaptability and help Haas evaluate last year’s car in fresh conditions. As the field turns its attention back to the current season’s action, this test stands out as a key moment for emerging talents to make an impression and for teams to revisit established machinery outside the pressure of a race weekend.
