McLaren have already signed the next Charles Leclerc and he could join F1 grid next year

Follow us on Google Discover

Charles Leclerc began his path to stardom in Formula 1 with Sauber after joining on loan from Ferrari in 2018. In 2027, McLaren could have their next star on the grid.

Several big names have had loan deals in F1 over the years. Sebastian Vettel made his F1 debut in 2007 with BMW after agreeing a deal with Red Bull to replace Robert Kubica at Indianapolis.

Daniel Ricciardo and George Russell join Leclerc among others who have raced for other teams on loan from their parent team. It proved key to their development and set them up to be multiple race winners, and next season, McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli could be the next.

Does Esteban Ocon deserve a seat on the F1 grid in 2027?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

McLaren could have the next Charles Leclerc in Leonardo Fornaroli as he eyes Haas seat in 2027

The young Italian has had a hugely impressive junior career, winning the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles consecutively in 2024 and 2025. The likes of Russell, Leclerc and Gabriel Bortoleto achieved the same feat, proving just how high his ceiling could be.

After his F2 win, McLaren announced they had signed him as a reserve driver for 2026. The problem for Fornaroli is that his chances of landing a seat with the team in the distant future are slim to none.

READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are contracted until 2028 at the latest. This was exactly the reason why Bortoleto left the McLaren programme for Sauber, later Audi, in 2025.

But Fornaroli finds himself in a more fortuitous position, as he has a strong chance of landing an F1 seat in 2027. McLaren are willing to loan him out next year, and they are pushing to get him into Haas.

Esteban Ocon is set to lose his seat with the American outfit at the end of 2026, and multiple drivers are battling to replace him. McLaren are fighting Ferrari to get Fornaroli the Haas seat, with their Italian rivals looking to strike a deal for junior driver Rafael Camara.

What, in your opinion, has gone wrong for McLaren this year? 📉

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

In fact, McLaren have an agreement in principle with Haas for Fornaroli to join the team in 2027. He recently took part in a TPC test with the team at Jerez in the VF-25.

Joining a midfield team on loan could set him up for a strong career in F1, just as Sauber did for Leclerc before he joined Ferrari in 2019. Should McLaren get Fornaroli into the Haas seat, they could have themselves a real star for the future.