SAEDNEWS: Despite leading the Formula 2 championship, Leonardo Fornaroli faces a harsh reality: winning the title might not guarantee him a Formula 1 seat, leaving him to consider reserve roles, Formula E, or endurance racing.
Leonardo Fornaroli, the Formula 2 championship leader, has proven himself as one of the most consistent and promising young drivers in motorsport. Driving for Invicta Racing, the Italian has dominated much of the season, showing skill, precision, and tactical awareness that many F1 scouts look for. Yet, despite his performance, the path from F2 to Formula 1 remains murky.
With only three rounds left in the 2025 F2 season, Fornaroli holds a 21-point lead going into the Baku Sprint, showcasing his dominance and consistency. He has only retired twice in eleven rounds and regularly finishes in the top ten. Yet his position is paradoxical: even a championship victory does not guarantee an F1 seat.
Since F2 returned in 2017 as a feeder series for F1, many champions have faced similar struggles. Winning F2 demonstrates talent and readiness, but limited opportunities and complex team politics often leave champions sidelined.
Fornaroli is currently unaffiliated with any F1 team, unlike his main rival Luke Browning, who benefits from the Williams Academy support. This means that even if Fornaroli wins the championship, he could face the same fate as drivers like:
Luke Browning
Théo Pourchaire (2023 F2 Champion), who moved to ELMS racing.
Théo Pourchaire
Felipe Drugovich (2022 F2 Champion), a reserve driver for Aston Martin for multiple seasons despite his success.
Felipe Drugovich
Former F2/F3 director Bruno Michel has previously defended the rule limiting repeat F2 participation: “You either move up or leave.” This approach ensures turnover but creates challenges for champions like Fornaroli, who may win but have few F1 options.
Even with the planned addition of two new F1 seats in 2026, competition is fiercer than ever. The entry of six new drivers in the current season makes it difficult for Fornaroli to secure a seat.
Cadillac is unlikely, prioritizing experience with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.
Mercedes remains uncertain with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, offering no clear path.
Alpine could be an option, but according to Flavio Briatore, no F2 driver currently stands out enough to partner Pierre Gasly.
Even Red Bull and Scuderia AlphaTauri have not finalized junior promotions, and Arvid Lindblad is the favorite within Red Bull’s junior ranks.
If an F1 seat remains elusive, Fornaroli may need to consider:
Reserve driver positions: similar to Drugovich at Aston Martin.
Formula E: He has already tested the category with Jaguar in Berlin rookie tests.
Endurance racing: Following the path of Théo Pourchaire in ELMS.
Winning the F2 title could ironically become a “poisoned chalice”, proving his talent but not guaranteeing progress to F1.
History shows that winning F2 does not automatically secure an F1 career:
Gabriel Bortoleto won F3 and F2 but quickly faced limited options.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Felipe Drugovich, despite winning F2 in 2022, spent multiple seasons as a reserve driver.
These examples illustrate the harsh reality of motorsport politics, where talent is necessary but networking, sponsorship, and team affiliations are equally critical.
