P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren got its F1 season up and running at the Barcelona shakedown test earlier this week.
McLaren’s chief designer Rob Marshall emphasized that the team views the Barcelona test primarily as a shakedown, rather than a pursuit of maximum performance from the MCL40 challenger. The team debuted the car on Wednesday with Lando Norris, the reigning champion, at the wheel, completing 76 laps to assess the new car’s capabilities. Marshall reported a smooth day without any major issues, stating that minor glitches were promptly addressed. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, also had his first taste of the car, but the team’s focus remains on reliability and operation rather than competitive pace at this stage. The team plans to fine-tune the car’s performance during the forthcoming Bahrain test, acknowledging the challenges of achieving representative lap times in the cold Barcelona conditions.
