McLaren will once again field junior Leonardo Fornaroli during the first free practice session at the Hungarian GP. The reigning Formula 2 champion will take Oscar Piastri’s car at the Hungaroring, marking his second practice session of the season. In Barcelona, he already got behind the wheel of Lando Norris’s MCL40. In addition to McLaren, Haas and Alpine will also field a rookie during the opening session, with Ryo Hirakawa and Paul Aron respectively.
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The session comes at an important moment for McLaren. The team is bringing a comprehensive upgrade package to Budapest in the hope of further reducing the gap to Mercedes. McLaren is also very pleased with Fornaroli’s development and, according to team principal Andrea Stella, is exploring possibilities to temporarily place the 21-year-old Italian elsewhere on the grid. He is explicitly linked to the second seat at Haas. After an inconsistent first half of the season, Esteban Ocon is by no means certain of his future with the American team.
Rookie Wave
Not only McLaren is fielding a rookie during the opening session in Hungary. Haas is making way for Toyota protégé Ryo Hirakawa, replacing Oliver Bearman, while Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron will drive a free practice session for the third time this season. The Estonian replaces Franco Colapinto, after previously appearing on loan for Audi in Barcelona and Austria.
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Since 2025, Formula 1 teams are obliged to field a rookie four times per season during a free practice session, so that the next generation can get used to the premier class in good time. All regular drivers must therefore give up their car twice, with the exception of Racing Bulls‘ Arvid Lindblad. The British-Swedish driver debuted in the premier class this year and is therefore still considered a rookie himself.
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