McLaren and Ferrari undertook private F1 tests with selected drivers at Imola and Fiorano – respectively – in between Saudi Arabia and Australia.
With the first two F1 rounds done in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, most of the teams have traveled back home to prepare for the next leg in Australasia. But in between the races in Saudi Arabia and Australia, two outfits have hit the track for private testing.
McLaren were out running at Imola with its MCL36 under the testing programme as allowed by the FIA. While Lando Norris headed to MTC together with Andrea Stella and Zak Brown to address the team, Oscar Piastri spent time on track to get more mileage.
The Australian was not alone as reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa had another go with McLaren – his third since joining the F1 team. Elsewhere, Ferrari continued its testing prograame at Fiorano with reserve and now a race driver, Oliver Bearman.
Having had a surprise debut, Bearman drove the F1-75 post his SF-24 drive in Saudi Arabia. It is unclear if the Brit will get another go in Australia as Carlos Sainz recovers, with the likes of Robert Shwartzman and Antonio Giovinazzi now available too.
In fact, Giovinazzi was testing in Fiorano too alongside Bearman in the F1-75.
Ferrari videos: https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/1767850951233142971?s=20
https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/1768261693564411971?s=20
Here’s Oscar Piastri on P4 finish
Here’s Oliver Bearman on help from Lewis Hamilton
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