P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren reveals Oscar Piastri was interrupted by a fuel system issue during his maiden run in the MCL40 at the F1 test in Barcelona.
During his first run in the MCL40 at the F1 private shakedown in Barcelona, Oscar Piastri faced an interruption due to a fuel system issue, as revealed by McLaren.
The team’s 2026 challenger made its debut at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with reigning World Champion Lando Norris completing 77 laps during the day.
However, Piastri was unable to complete his full-day running as planned on Thursday, with only 48 laps done due to a fuel system problem that led to the car being stripped down.
McLaren, despite the early reliability issues, remains confident in its test program and stated that the interruption did not affect its overall plans for the Barcelona test.
The private shakedown in Barcelona marks the first of three pre-season tests for the latest era of F1, with teams focusing on understanding the new cars and systems.
McLaren Technical Director of Performance, Mark Temple, emphasized the importance of drivers getting acquainted with the new car’s operations and behavior amid the challenges encountered during testing.
