Oscar Piastri misses Hungary FP1 as Fornaroli steps in for McLaren upgrade test

Oscar Piastri misses FP1 in Budapest as McLaren tests new parts

Oscar Piastri will not take the wheel in Friday’s opening session at the Hungaroring after McLaren drafted Leonardo Fornaroli into his MCL40 for the mandatory rookie run.

The 21-year-old Italian replaces Piastri for the 60-minute Hungaroring outing on 25 July 2026, giving the reigning Formula 2 champion his second grand prix weekend appearance after stepping in for Lando Norris in Barcelona last month. Fornaroli finished fifth in that Barcelona FP1, having logged private miles in older McLaren machinery under the TPC rules.

What happened in Hungary

McLaren is rolling out its latest major upgrade package this weekend, centred on a new floor and extra aerodynamic pieces aimed at cutting the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari before the summer break. The team will also trial a revised version of its experimental rear wing-McLaren’s take on the ‘Macarena’ concept already raced by Ferrari and Red Bull this season-during FP1.

The rear wing’s mainplane flips upside down when Straight Mode is activated. After Friday’s session it will be removed and is not scheduled for Hungary or the Dutch GP immediately after the summer shutdown. McLaren may bring it back later in 2026 if Budapest data looks promising.

Why it matters for Oscar Piastri

Piastri’s absence leaves Norris as McLaren’s only regular driver in FP1, raising the stakes on Fornaroli’s feedback while the team gauges the new parts. Senior director of racing Randy Singh said every development counts in a tight season.

“We have an upgrade package arriving this weekend too, and in such a competitive season every development is important so it will be great to gather further understanding on how those parts perform throughout free practice,” Singh said. “Our aim is to maximise everything we have available, carry positive momentum into the shutdown and put ourselves in the strongest possible position for the second half of the championship.”

McLaren hopes the floor and aero tweaks will sharpen braking and corner-entry performance at high-downforce venues like the Hungaroring and Zandvoort, though the team admits neither track offers ideal conditions for the package.

What comes next

Piastri and Norris logged fifth and seventh in Belgium on 22 June, showing promising pace but failing to convert it into points they felt were within reach. The Hungaroring test is the next chance to turn development into dividends before the summer break.

Fornaroli has spent recent weeks in McLaren’s simulator and Woking facilities preparing for the run. “I’m looking forward to driving the MCL40 in this weekend’s Free Practice 1 at the Hungaroring,” he said. “It’s going to be another fantastic opportunity to continue my development with the car and build on the valuable work we completed together with the team in Barcelona.”