McLaren continues to assemble its driver line-up for 2027. Following Denmark’s Mikkel Jensen, Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor, Britain’s Alex Lynn and Italy’s Leonardo Fornaroli, the British manufacturer has now confirmed Grégoire Saucy as its fifth driver.
At 26, the Swiss racer has followed a very different path from his future team-mates. Yet his recruitment follows a clear sporting logic. His recent results in prototype racing and his involvement in developing the MCL-HY make him a particularly interesting addition to the Woking-based manufacturer’s programme.
Does Saucy Have the Credentials to Race in Hypercar?
Saucy does not enjoy the same recognition as Vanthoor, Lynn or Jensen, all of whom are already familiar with endurance racing’s top class. Nor does he have the profile of Fornaroli, who arrives on the back of consecutive FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles, alongside his role as a reserve driver for the McLaren F1 Team. But Saucy has credentials of his own, and they should not be underestimated.
Crowned Formula Regional European Championship champion in 2021 with eight victories, he finished ahead of the likes of Hadrien David, Paul Aron, Zane Maloney, Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto, Gabriele Minì and Dino Beganovic. Several were younger than him, admittedly, but the level of competition was considerable.
The Swiss driver subsequently moved into FIA Formula 3, without achieving the results he had hoped for, before switching to endurance racing in 2024. Two seasons in the WEC aboard a United Autosports-run McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo allowed him to become familiar with the championship.
This year, in his third season of LMP2 competition, Saucy claimed the ELMS title with United Autosports. Alongside Griffin Peebles and Ben Hanley, he secured five podiums, including two victories, from six races, as well as a pole position. The trio finished every round inside the top four.
That title confirms the progress of a driver whose talent is matched by his discretion. He may not command the same attention as some of his future team-mates, but that understated approach could also work in his favour.
Why Saucy Rather Than Someone Else?
Beyond his racing record, Saucy has another significant advantage: he has been part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme since February, alongside Richard Verschoor. From the outset, Zak Brown wanted to involve some of the programme’s young drivers in the development of the MCL-HY, giving them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
“Grégoire’s promotion is exactly what the McLaren Driver Development Programme is designed to achieve: identifying exceptional talent, supporting that development and creating a genuine pathway to a works race seat,” explains James Barclay.
On 4 May, when the MCL-HY completed its first laps at Varano in Italy, Saucy was already behind the wheel alongside Mikkel Jensen. It was an early indication of the confidence placed in him by McLaren and United Autosports, the latter being particularly familiar with his consistency and ability to make very few mistakes.
“When I joined the McLaren Hypercar Team for its development season, I hoped it might lead to a full-time race seat, but I knew there was a great deal of experienced talent in the driver market,” Saucy admits. “I stayed focused, worked hard and adapted quickly to the MCL-HY.”
Since then, the Swiss driver has taken part in every test session bar one. He was also entrusted with the car’s first public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, alongside 2025 Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris.
James Barclay, Team Principal of McLaren Hypercar Team, highlights Saucy’s qualities:
“He has impressed us throughout the MCL-HY test programme with his pace, methodical approach within the team and his progress over the intensive testing schedule. He has earned this opportunity, and we are excited to see him take the next step in his career with McLaren.”
Saucy’s performances have surprised more than a few people, including some of his future team-mates. That has worked in his favour, as have his results in LMP2, where he has notably proved more convincing than Richard Verschoor.
The 25-year-old Dutchman has fallen short of expectations, struggling for consistency aboard Duqueine Team’s Oreca 07. That is despite a more impressive single-seater record, including third place in the 2025 Formula 2 championship and victory at the 2019 Macau Grand Prix.
Who Will Complete McLaren’s Driver Line-up?
“Thank you to Zak for bringing me into the McLaren Driver Development Programme and to James for trusting me with this opportunity,” says Saucy. “I cannot wait to continue this journey.”
The Swiss driver understands the significance of the opportunity and appears determined to make the most of it. He already knows the WEC, the MCL-HY and United Autosports, which should considerably shorten his adaptation period.
Nevertheless, he will have to cope with the pressure of competing in endurance racing’s premier category, not to mention the responsibility of representing a manufacturer of McLaren’s stature. He will also need to measure up against some exceptionally quick team-mates, several of whom have little left to prove and against whom he will inevitably be judged.
The driver line-up McLaren Hypercar Team is assembling is impressive, as is the apparent level of preparation behind the programme. And the identity of the sixth and final driver is unlikely to change that assessment.
Alongside Mikkel Jensen, Grégoire Saucy, Laurens Vanthoor, Lando Norris and Leonardo Fornaroli, Ben Hanley, Richard Verschoor and Thomas Fleming have also driven the MCL-HY during its development programme.
However, according to our information, the final race seat is expected to go to Denmark’s Malthe Jakobsen, who will leave Peugeot following Sunday’s 6 Hours of Monza.
With Vanthoor, Lynn, Jensen and, in all likelihood, Jakobsen, McLaren will be able to rely on drivers who already understand the demands of Hypercar competition. Fornaroli and Saucy, meanwhile, will bring different qualities to a team whose ambitions and resources are beginning to attract serious attention from its future rivals.