P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren encountered an unusual scenario ahead of the Qatar GP.
McLaren had to request a special exemption from the FIA before the Qatar Grand Prix practice session due to issues with Lando Norris’ car.
During the ‘Show and Tell’ session before the practice, McLaren did not initially display a car but later brought out Oscar Piastri’s car amid speculation.
It was revealed that McLaren conducted unusual tests on Norris’ car, particularly focusing on non-destructive testing (NDT) of various surfaces.
The NDT was done to check for internal cracks in the carbon fiber components, potentially caused by previous events like porpoising in Vegas.
Though unusual to perform such tests on a Friday morning, they wanted to ensure the car was safe before hitting the track.
