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Lando Norris dazzles in McLaren MCL40 debut while Audi faces disastrous setback in Barcelona

David Castro by David Castro
January 28, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Lando Norris dazzles in McLaren MCL40 debut while Audi faces disastrous setback in Barcelona

Historic Debut: McLaren MCL40 and Lando Norris Steal the Spotlight Amid Audi’s Struggles

In a thrilling display of speed and ambition, McLaren has unveiled its MCL40 during the Barcelona shakedown, marking a significant milestone in Formula 1 history. Lando Norris, the young British driver, took to the track sporting the coveted number ‘1’ for the very first time in his career, a title he earned as the reigning World Champion. This momentous occasion set the stage for an action-packed Day 3 of testing, which was not without its fair share of drama.

Following a dismal Day 2 plagued by rain and limited running, where only Red Bull and Ferrari managed to make an appearance, the sun broke through on the morning of Day 3, promising a flurry of activity. However, Red Bull faced its own challenges; team boss Laurent Mekies revealed that they were still nursing the damaged car of Isack Hadjar from a late crash. With just one day left of testing, Mekies stated they must “play that card carefully.”

But the excitement kicked off as Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Audi, and Haas quickly filled the circuit after the green lights signaled the return to action. George Russell was on a mission, clocking laps in his Mercedes W17, while Audi, not to be outdone, sent Nico Hulkenberg out with aero rakes attached to the R26. This move hinted at the team’s ambition to push beyond mere systems checks towards performance validation.

Unfortunately for Audi, the morning took a turn when Hulkenberg’s car came to an unexpected halt between Turns 9 and 10, forcing officials to wave a red flag. The newcomer team’s struggles continued, having already faced a technical issue on their opening day of testing with Gabriel Bortoleto. With the car being towed back to the garage, Audi’s hopes for a smooth shakedown were dashed yet again.

Not even a moment later, the drama escalated as Haas driver Oliver Bearman also found himself stranded on the track, triggering yet another recovery operation. Despite these setbacks, it was Alpine’s Franco Colapinto who shone, setting the pace with a blistering lap of 1:21.897 amidst the ongoing chaos.

As the clock ticked down, the spotlight returned to McLaren. Lando Norris, now behind the wheel of the MCL40, began making history as he lapped the circuit for the first time. With McLaren reportedly focusing on short stints before retreating to the garage, the world watched eagerly. Unofficial reports indicated that Mercedes was cranking up its powerful new engine, which is generating buzz as a potential game-changer for F1 2026.

By mid-morning, Colapinto had further elevated the bar with an astonishing lap time of 1:19.150 on soft tires, while Russell dominated the lap count, amassing an impressive 70+ laps. In stark contrast, Audi’s Hulkenberg managed a mere five laps, leaving the team scrambling to address the issues plaguing their debut.

As the excitement of the Barcelona shakedown unfolded, fans and experts alike were left on the edge of their seats, eager for more updates from the F1 paddock. The drama, the ambition, and the fierce competition are setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying season ahead. Stay tuned — this is just the beginning!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-f1-saudi-grand-prix2025-mclaren-f1-championshipgeorge-russell-2getspeed-mercedesLando NorrisNico Hülkenberg
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