Stella praises Fornaroli’s work as McLaren reserve driver

McLaren’s Andrea Stella has praised Leonardo Fornaroli’s work as a reserve driver, as an Autosport feature examines what the role can offer drivers seeking an F1 seat.

GPBeat · Newsroom06 Oct 2026, 01:18 · 1 min

Stella told Autosport that Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 2 champion, actively seeks out McLaren’s engineers, records what he learns and shares ideas. He also praised the Italian’s pace and consistency in simulator work, previous-car tests and practice sessions. Fornaroli has yet to secure an F1 race seat.

In his feature published on 3 October, Autosport writer Jake Boxall-Legge describes two broad groups of reserve drivers: experienced racers seeking a return and younger prospects trying to break into F1. He argues that work behind the scenes gives both groups a chance to demonstrate their value rather than simply wait for an opening.

Yuki Tsunoda is one example in the feature. Autosport reports that he stayed with Red Bull as a reserve after losing his race seat at the end of 2025, then returned to the grid with Racing Bulls when Liam Lawson moved to Red Bull to replace the injured Isack Hadjar. Tsunoda said his reserve duties included previous-car tests, simulator sessions and team meetings.

Boxall-Legge cautions that a reserve role does not guarantee a race seat, citing Théo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich. His argument is that it can still give drivers a way to make their case when an opportunity arises.

Source context

The account comes from Jake Boxall-Legge’s Autosport feature of 3 October 2026, which includes comments from Stella and Tsunoda.

Claims and supporting evidence 6

Jake Boxall-Legge published this Autosport feature on 3 October 2026. It examines reserve drivers’ roles rather than announcing a new appointment.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. The identity and context of the supplied feature 3 October 2026 The feature is the only publication supplied.

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Boxall-Legge distinguishes experienced former race drivers from younger prospects seeking an F1 seat. He argues that reserve work extends beyond waiting for an opening; this is the feature’s analytical framing, not a rule applying to every driver.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. The author’s analysis of reserve-driver roles The reserve-driver role as discussed in the October 2026 feature The two profiles are the author’s categorisation.

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In the Autosport feature, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praises reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli’s initiative, feedback and speed. Those assessments are Stella’s opinions, not independently measured results in the supplied material.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella’s assessment of Leonardo Fornaroli Reported in the feature published 3 October 2026 The supplied feature does not date Stella’s remarks separately or provide comparative test data.

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Autosport reports that after losing his Red Bull race seat at the end of 2025, Tsunoda remained a reserve. It says he took the Racing Bulls seat vacated when Liam Lawson moved to replace the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull. This is a reported example within the feature, not a newly announced move in it.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Autosport’s account of Yuki Tsunoda’s return to a race seat End of 2025 and the period before the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix The sequence is supported by this Autosport account alone; no second publication was supplied.

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Tsunoda tells Autosport that he trained, drove previous-car tests, attended meetings and used simulator sessions while with Red Bull. His description of his preparation is a first-person account, not an independently verified measure of readiness.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Tsunoda’s own account of reserve work His reserve period before returning to race in 2026 The feature does not provide a complete interview transcript or separately date these remarks.

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Boxall-Legge explicitly says a reserve role does not guarantee a future F1 race seat. His conclusion that the role can improve a driver’s prospects should remain an attributed interpretation, not a promised outcome.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. The limit to the feature’s argument The author’s assessment in October 2026 The feature offers examples, not a measured success rate for reserve drivers.

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Corrections and updates to this story

06 Oct 2026, 01:18

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