McLaren keeps Leonardo Fornaroli in Formula 1 as the Italian incorporates a WEC program for 2027.

"The programme McLaren has provided me this year has been extraordinary," Fornaroli shared with Motorsport.com. "The TPC days I've completed with the team, the two FP1 sessions, and all the simulator work have been immensely beneficial experiences. Each time I collaborate with the team, I gain new insights. I want to express my gratitude to McLaren for the support and the developmental opportunities they've offered me."

The skills acquired in F1 will also lay a crucial groundwork for his new venture into endurance racing, a field that will inevitably require a period of adjustment. Fornaroli is fully aware of this but believes his experiences thus far have equipped him with valuable insights.

"All of this will also be vital for the WEC, because it's an incredibly competitive championship and there will be much to learn, from overtaking to strategy, as well as, of course, adapting to a completely new car."

Fornaroli has already had an initial experience with the McLaren Hypercar, although his time behind the wheel was limited to just a few kilometres.

Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren

Yesterday, the Italian completed a single lap, just enough to experience sensations unlike anything he had encountered before. His first proper test with the team is set to commence today, allowing him to become more familiar with the Hypercar and initiate development work ahead of its WEC debut.

"It was a fantastic experience," Fornaroli confessed. "Entering a closed cockpit for the first time, shutting the door, and taking off initially on electric power before the combustion engine kicked in was something entirely new for me, but truly, really exciting. I can't wait to get back in the car and log my first proper kilometres with the team."

Fornaroli will also be actively involved in the development of the Hypercar, further emphasizing his engagement in the project. McLaren will approach its inaugural WEC season with significant ambitions, and the young Italian is confident that the organization possesses all it needs to rise to the challenge.

"It's an incredible feeling to be part of this programme. Naturally, it will be our first year in the WEC, but I have great confidence. The driver line-up is highly competitive, featuring experienced racers and talented young drivers.

"The engineers are exceptionally skilled, as are the mechanics. We're talking about McLaren, a team that has achieved remarkable successes throughout motorsport history. Competing with them next year is going to be exhilarating."

Beyond the technical aspects and career opportunities, the endurance programme also satisfies a desire Fornaroli has openly expressed: returning to racing.

After a season spent largely observing as a reserve driver, watching the inner workings of a Formula 1 team, the chance to compete wheel-to-wheel again offers a particularly potent motivation.

Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren

"Yes, I've genuinely missed racing," he admitted. "Every weekend I'm at the track as a reserve driver, I feel a pang of jealousy when I see Lando and Oscar competing. So getting back to racing is going to be an exhilarating experience."

The 2027 calendar will also showcase a particularly significant event: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For Fornaroli, it will represent more than just one of the most crucial races of the season. It will signify the realization of a long-held dream much sooner than he ever anticipated.

"Absolutely. Le Mans has always been a dream of mine. I never imagined I would have the chance to race there as early as next year.

"It's a race I've contemplated for many years, and to participate so soon will be incredible. I watch the 24 Hours every year, even staying up late into the night to catch it. I think it will be an exceptionally special experience to race at such a unique venue as Le Mans for the first time."

The 2027 season is, therefore, shaping up to be a particularly pivotal one for Fornaroli's future.

On one hand, he will retain his position within McLaren's Formula 1 programme, with the prospect of further solidifying his bond with the team and continuing his development. On the other, he will return to competitive racing in a world championship of the highest caliber, while actively contributing to the development of an entirely new car.

Two distinct but complementary commitments through which McLaren will persist in investing in the young Italian, presenting him with a programme that merges driver development, technical experience, and, perhaps most importantly for Fornaroli, the opportunity to race again.