McLaren and Lando Norris Make First Appearance at Formula 1’s Private Test in Barcelona
Reigning world champions Lando Norris and McLaren have made their first appearance at Formula 1’s private test in Barcelona, marking a significant milestone in the team’s preparation for the upcoming season. According to sources confirmed to ESPN, Norris, driving the No. 1 car for the first time in his career, completed an early installation lap at the Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday morning.
This initial outing was an essential systems check, which saw Norris leave the pits, drive around at reduced speed, and then return to the pit-lane again. McLaren had not taken part in the opening two days of F1’s private preseason test, as each team is restricted to three of the five days this week, and the British team plans to run Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Norris won the drivers’ championship in 2026, McLaren’s first since 2008, in a thrilling three-way fight with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The team has won back-to-back constructors’ championships, solidifying their position as a dominant force in the sport. McLaren has already unveiled a striking all-black testing livery for the Barcelona shakedown, with its proper launch event set for Feb. 9, right before F1’s first official test in Bahrain.
F1’s Secret Test Continues with Minimal Information Released
F1’s secret test, which media and fans have been banned from entering, has been a curious one so far, with minimal information officially being released beyond the confines of the circuit. After a busy first day, only Ferrari and Red Bull opted to test on Tuesday, a day which saw intermittent showers throughout the day. Tuesday’s running featured a crash for Red Bull’s Isak Hadjar, and it remains unclear whether the team has enough spare parts to complete their third and final day of the test.
For more information on the test, check out ESPN’s analysis and news from Barcelona, which includes an explanation of why F1 is testing in January and the 2026 F1 livery Power Rankings.
Day Three Sees Increased Activity on the Track
Day three appears to be a lot busier than Tuesday’s running, with several teams taking to the track. On top of the McLaren, sources have told ESPN that, like on day one, Mercedes was straight out of the pits at the start of the day and immediately put down a competitive lap time, with George Russell at the wheel. Racing Bulls, Audi, Alpine, and Haas all took to the track at some point in the morning too.
Aston Martin and Williams are the only teams yet to have completed a lap. Aston Martin said earlier in the week their “intention” is to start on Thursday, although they appear to be behind schedule, while delays to the car build process meant Williams have skipped the test entirely. As the test continues, fans and teams alike will be eagerly awaiting any updates and insights into the upcoming season.
