Leonardo Fornaroli: My Greatest Influences

The reigning Formula 3 Champion is stepping up to Formula 2 and Leonardo Fornaroli’s preparations for the 2025 season with Invicta Racing have already started with three days of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi.

He is working hard to hit the ground running in Barcelona but before he gets going in pre-season, we asked him to look back and to talk about the people that have helped him get to this point.

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FATHER

“First of all, I would say my dad. He's the one who brought me to racing, into motorsport and since I was young, I was going to his race weekends because he was a racing driver as well and I liked a lot watching his races, how he was preparing for the race weekends. One day I asked him 'Dad, can we go try a go kart, the electric one?'

“Since that first time I fell in love with it and he helped me a lot growing up, every time we watched my races together to see what I do well, what I can improve, mistakes I should not do, what I have to repeat and what I don't have to repeat, so stuff like that.

“He still comes to the races, every weekend he comes to support me. He still gives me some small tips but not big help because now race after race, I know what to do now. So, now he is giving me small tips, and they are helping me actually. It's amazing having him around, without him I would not be here.”

GIANFRANCO RIZZI - Trainer

“My trainer Gianfranco, we call him maestro in the paddock. He is a very good kickboxing trainer, I think he was one of the best some years ago, now he's a little bit older but still very good at teaching.

“Five years ago, we met each other, he didn't know anything about motorsport so he decided to jump with me into this new adventure and he learned a lot of things very well. He has helped me a lot, physically and mentally, I am another person compared to last year, every year he is helping me improve and we are growing together.

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“He is very nice, he is the hero of the paddock. He worked with a lot of guys my age all his life and he won a lot of world championships, so his tips are very good.

“I mean he tells me a lot of things, I can't remember all right now but he is able to always calm me down, making me feel relaxed before Qualifying, before races and before every session. He also gives me some exercises that calm the muscles and to get more oxygen into my body, so it's very good help having him by my side.”

ROBERTO STREIT - Driver Coach

“A lot of people have helped me so it's not easy to have it down to three, but Roberto and I have been working together since the end of 2023, and he has completely changed me in terms of approaching the weekend, driving, race management, Qualifying management.

“In this sport, especially at this high level, to be always at the front and to make things perfect, he definitely changed me on this side, and I can't thank him enough because I am here today having won the Championship because of him.

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“Of course, I improved myself with more experience but compared to 2023 I didn't make a mega step forward in Qualifying, because our Quali pace was very good, but I think I changed my race management completely.

“In 2023 I was making a lot of mistakes, and I didn't know how to manage everything but in 2024, I think I have made a good step forward. It’s thanks to everyone, not only to Robbie, but a lot of people within TRIDENT, my engineers, Giacomo Ricci, the Team Manager, a lot of people.”