Lando Norris and McLaren commence Formula 1 testing in Barcelona.
Defending world champions Lando Norris and McLaren have made their initial appearance at Formula 1’s private test in Barcelona.
Norris, piloting the No. 1 car for the first time in his career, completed an early lap at the Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday morning, sources confirmed to ESPN.
This was an installation lap, serving as an initial systems check where a driver exits the pits, drives at a reduced speed, and then returns to the pit lane.
McLaren did not participate in the first two days of F1’s private preseason test — each team is limited to three of the five days this week, and the British team intends to run on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Norris secured the drivers’ championship in 2026 — McLaren’s first since 2008 — in a competitive battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The team has achieved consecutive constructors’ championships.
McLaren has already revealed a distinctive all-black testing livery for the Barcelona shakedown, with its official launch event scheduled for Feb. 9, just before F1’s first official test in Bahrain.
F1’s private test, from which media and fans have been excluded, has been intriguing thus far, with limited information officially released beyond the circuit’s confines.
Following a busy first day, only Ferrari and Red Bull chose to test on Tuesday, a day marked by intermittent rain.
Tuesday’s session included a crash involving Red Bull’s Isak Hadjar, and it remains uncertain whether the team has sufficient spare parts to complete their third and final day of testing.
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Day three is expected to be significantly busier than Tuesday’s session.
In addition to McLaren, sources have informed ESPN that, similar to day one, Mercedes was quick out of the pits at the start of the day and immediately set a competitive lap time — George Russell was behind the wheel.
Racing Bulls, Audi, Alpine, and Haas all took to the track at various points in the morning as well.
Aston Martin and Williams are the only teams yet to complete a lap. Aston Martin indicated earlier in the week that their “intention” is to begin on Thursday, although they seem to be behind schedule, while delays in the car build process have caused Williams to miss the test entirely.
Source: espn.com
