This Thursday, McLaren made its first laps in Barcelona, but not without hurdles. After missing the first two days of testing, the defending champion team finally hit the track with a mix of hope and uncertainty. The MCL40, although promising, encountered a fuel issue that complicated Oscar Piastri’s task.
A promising start to running
McLaren finally started its second day of running in Barcelona, after a wait that seemed endless for fans and team members. On Wednesday, Lando Norris took the wheel for the first time, completing 76 laps despite a late exit from the pits. This Thursday, it was Oscar Piastri who inherited the MCL40. The Australian accumulated 48 laps in the morning before the car was forced to return to the garage due to a problem with the fuel system.
An MCL40 grappling with technical issues
McLaren’s performance technical director, Mark Temple, expressed his disappointment with the situation: “It’s a shame we couldn’t run this afternoon, as every minute on track is precious at such an early stage of the season.” Indeed, the detected problem requires “extensive investigations,” and the team decided to dismantle the car to better understand the source of the malfunction.
Oscar Piastri in the McLaren in Barcelona.
A mixed but encouraging assessment
With a total of 124 laps accumulated over two days, McLaren finds itself far from Mercedes’ performance, which completed 168 laps in a single day. Nevertheless, the team strives to maintain a positive attitude. “We have a good understanding of the car’s baseline,” says Mark Temple. “The most important aspect for the drivers is to understand how the new car works, how the power unit interacts, and the energy management process.”
It seems that despite the difficulties, Piastri was able to gain valuable insights regarding the chassis behavior. “Overall, we haven’t encountered anything truly unexpected. The car’s behavior and handling are in line with what we anticipated.”
Oscar Piastri’s objectives
Looking ahead to the final day of running scheduled for tomorrow, Oscar Piastri has clear expectations: “I’m mainly trying to get a better feel for the car. There is a huge gap compared to what we had in recent years and everything I’ve experienced in F1.” With a completely revised engine and a different aerodynamic philosophy, he aims to adapt as quickly as possible.
Lando Norris in McLaren this Wednesday in Barcelona.
Toward optimal preparation for Bahrain
Piastri knows he must quickly get used to these changes to find the best direction to optimize the MCL40’s performance: “The idea is to get accustomed to these differences, to feel the car well, and as quickly as possible, to find a good direction to make it faster and more enjoyable to drive.” The goal remains clear: to best prepare the team for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first official meeting of the season.
In summary, McLaren approaches this testing period with a mix of optimism and caution. The technical challenges encountered are not uncommon during the preseason, but the team seems determined to overcome these obstacles to field a competitive car on the grid. It remains to be seen whether these adjustments will pay off in the upcoming races.
