F2 star told it’s ‘absolutely mind-blowing’ that he’s not been offered a 2026 Formula 1 role yet

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Invicta Racing boss James Robinson has named the current Formula 2 driver who has left him ‘astounded’ at the fact he hasn’t been linked with a Formula 1 team for the 2026 season.

There are a number of drivers on the current Formula 2 grid who have been linked with a potential full-time drive in the inaugural season of F1’s 2026 regulations, or at the very least, a reserve driver role.

After impressing in his FP1 debut with McLaren earlier this season, Cadillac retain interest in Alex Dunne as they continue to discuss behind closed doors who will be at the wheel of their first F1 car next year.

Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad has also been linked with a drive at Racing Bulls next season as well. After his FP1 debut at the British Grand Prix in July, Lando Norris tipped Lindblad to be an F1 rival of his in the coming years.

READ MORE: Juan Pablo Montoya has a warning for Red Bull after seeing his son race against Arvid Lindblad in F2

Invicta Racing boss believes Leonardo Fornaroli would be an ‘exceptional pick’ for F1 teams

However, the one name that seems to be missing from these conversations regarding the next star to make the jump to F1 is the current F2 championship leader, Leonardo Fornaroli.

Speaking to Autosport, Invicta Racing team boss James Robinson revealed his shock at the fact Fornaroli isn’t being considered for an F1 seat despite his stature in the F2 championship standings.

“I’m astounded at this stage, being candid,” Robinson began. “I cannot understand why Leo is not with an F1 team right now. He wouldn’t say this because again, he’s only focused on his next race, so I see it very much as part of my role to say what a lot of people in our team are thinking.

“It’s absolutely mind-blowing that he hasn’t been announced for an F1 role for next year already, given that most of the other drivers in the top seven or eight positions in the championship are part of F1 team academies.

“Having worked in Formula 1 for 20 years, knowing what F1 teams look for in drivers, Leo is an exceptional guy in terms of developing a car. I think if you did take a sort of more Moneyball-style approach, Leo would be the most obvious pick for anybody.

“If you’re looking to develop a car, you need a driver that can deliver consistency, lap after lap after lap, they can give you that stable data point. Leo does that better than anybody in F2 right now. I think he would be the deal of the century for an F1 team at this stage.”

READ MORE: Alex Jacques says he would be ‘astounded’ if two current F2 stars weren’t racing in Formula 1 one day

Leonardo Fornaroli could join the list of F2 champions to not get an F1 seat in the following season

The young Italian driver is on course to follow in the footsteps of F1 stars such as Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri if he manages to clinch the F2 championship this season.

He will join the list of drivers to have won consecutive F3 and F2 titles, but the 20-year-old’s lack of backing from an F1 academy means he will stand alone with Piastri in not having a drive in the pinnacle of motorsport following his second-tier championship feat.

The comparisons with Piastri don’t stop there. Fornaroli jumped in to Gabriel Bortoleto’s championship-winning car from last year, similar to the Australian when he replaced Mick Schumacher at Prema in 2021 following the German’s championship-winning season and subsequent call-up to Haas.

Before Bortoleto was confirmed to be driving for Sauber this year, Schumacher’s call-up to Haas for the 2021 season was the last time an F2 champion got a full-time drive in F1 in the following season. Piastri had to sit out a year, with Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich both being overlooked as of yet.

Despite the lack of interest at the moment, Alex Jacques is confident that Fornaroli will be sporting F1 team kit around the paddock soon.