Lando Norris, current Formula 1 champion, has completed his first full test at the wheel of the McLaren MCL-HY Le Mans Hypercar at the Algarve Circuit in Portimao. This event took place this Monday following the Spanish Grand Prix, where the British driver lost the victory due to a Virtual Safety Car at a critical moment in the race.
During the day, Norris completed 38 laps, totaling 177 miles in his new competition vehicle. The test aimed primarily to evaluate several components in development, utilizing the driver’s experience to provide valuable feedback.
Accompanied by the McLaren drivers of 2027, Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, Norris contributed to continue the car’s development in the weeks leading up to the British brand’s debut in the Hypercar competition, which will take place in 2027.
After the test, Norris expressed his gratitude to the McLaren Hypercar Team for the opportunity. ‘It was a great experience to be able to test a new vehicle, a challenge I hadn’t had for years, and doing it within the McLaren family is very special,’ he commented. The driver also emphasized the importance of the day for collecting data that will help the team in their preparation for the Endurance World Championship.
The possibilities of Norris participating in Le Mans in the future have been tempered by the situation of the Formula 1 calendar, which has yet to be published, which could affect his chances of competing. The head of the McLaren Hypercar team, James Barclay, left the door open to future possibilities: ‘Competing in various disciplines opens exciting opportunities,’ he stated, highlighting Norris’s strong performance during the test and wishing him success in the remainder of his Formula 1 season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
