Fornaroli gets second FP1 call as McLaren stack Hungary upgrades

Fornaroli gets second FP1 run alongside McLaren upgrade package

McLaren confirmed Leonardo Fornaroli will drive the MCL40 in Free Practice 1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, his second F1 practice appearance. The team is simultaneously introducing a fresh aerodynamic update package, and pairing the two in a single FP1 session lets the engineering group collect component data while evaluating their junior driver.

The Hungaroring's tight, low-speed layout rewards cars with strong balance through sustained corners. Drivers spend more than 60 percent of the lap at partial throttle, so aerodynamic correlation issues with new parts tend to surface quickly. Tracks like Budapest are also where upgrades targeting floor performance, front wing load, or brake duct cooling show their effect most clearly. McLaren did not specify which of those areas the package addresses.

Running Fornaroli alongside the upgrade splits FP1 into two parallel workstreams. Engineers get clean installation data on the new components. Fornaroli collects mileage in current-spec machinery, building on the baseline reference from his first outing. McLaren has used simulator work and on-track programmes to develop him through their junior pipeline, and Hungary offers a second data point on his adaptability to real traffic, tyre warm-up, and procedural rhythm under race-weekend conditions.

Oscar Piastri confirmed the new parts are "working as expected" on Lando Norris' car after initial running and said there is "a lot up for grabs" for both himself and McLaren this weekend. Engineers are expected to run back-to-back comparisons between FP1 and FP2, stacking the updated specification against a control configuration to isolate the upgrade's contribution. If the numbers match wind tunnel and CFD predictions, the package could be locked in for qualifying and the race.