Then and Now: Leonardo Fornaroli on his development from Formula 3 to Formula 2

3 October 2025

Leonardo Fornaroli has enjoyed arguably the most impressive 18-months of his career from last year up to now, and he continues to lead the Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship with two rounds to go in 2025.

The Invicta Racing driver has gone from strength to strength lately, achieving huge milestone moments, race wins and of course, an F3 title along the way.

Ahead of the run-in and the final rounds of an impressive 2025 campaign, we asked the Italian what he’s learned across his F3 and F2 career and what the biggest differences are compared to when he joined the former as a rookie back in 2023.

“I changed my approach to the weekend, quite a lot since I first joined in Formula 3. Now I go and study everything in more detail. I am able to work more with the engineers, in terms of changes on the car, strategy, and my knowledge is much better now compared to my first year in F3.

Fornaroli says his title battle in 2024 was a huge step in his career and has made a lasting impact

“I learned a lot of things in terms of tyre management, knowledge about the driving, how to make changes in my approach to work best in every condition. Also, changes in the brake shape, overall knowledge about the technical stuff, how to work with the engineer - these are aspects I have improved a lot, which is an important thing. It also made me grow up a lot.

“I feel that I’ve understood my real potential, so now every time I get into the car, I’m more confident and I know what I’m able to do.

“When I got my first win in F2 at Silverstone in the Sprint Race, it felt like a little lift, a bit of weight off of my shoulders, and a boost for myself.

“Now when I’m fighting for a win, I’m more conscious about what’s happening and a bit more relaxed about it. When I won the first Feature Race in Hungary, that was a very big confidence boost. That moment has helped me massively this year and given me a big boost going into the rest of the year.

“But most of all, fighting for the title last year in F3 made me much more focused as a driver and in control of big pressure situations.

His Budapest victory was the big moment in his 2025 campaign and he's maintained momentum since

“In every situation I find myself in when I’m in the car now, I know how to handle them a little bit more, what the best thing to do is and how to go about making things happen.

“Also, a big thing is how I work with the team. Every year in my career up until 2025 I’ve been working with an Italian team, so it was easier for me to adapt with them.

“This year, I’m now with a British team, and at first, I was a bit concerned about joining them, just because I didn’t know how they would work and how to best fit into that.

“But since the first day, I’ve felt amazing. Invicta have been able to work with me very well, and myself with them, they know how to work with young drivers and get the best out of me.

“So, I’m super happy to be with them this year and hopefully we can continue this path we’re on to the end of the season.”