“A significant moment”: Lando Norris and Rob Marshall reflect on McLaren’s 2026 F1 debut. Lando Norris logs 77 laps on first day as reigning F1 world champion.

Lando Norris begins his first day as number 1

“Getting back on track and seeing the number 1 on the car was a surreal moment for me,” Lando Norris said, reflecting on his first day on track as the reigning Formula 1 world champion at the 2026 season shakedown in Barcelona. Driving the bold new McLaren MCL40, Norris covered 358 km over 77 laps, an excellent indication of the car’s reliability.

Comment from Lando Norris

“Being on track was a significant moment for the whole team because it was the first time our car, fully compliant with the new regulations, was running. Thanks to everyone who has brought us to this point. It was a productive and positive first day. Our goal was to get an initial understanding of the new car, ensure all systems were working, and gather baseline data for the engineers. With any regulation change, it takes time to fully understand everything, but I’m pleased with how the day went and I’m looking forward to doing more laps on Friday.”

Insight from chief designer Rob Marshall

“Our first day on track here in Barcelona was very productive, with the MCL40 performing well. Our main objective was to test the car, gather as much information as possible, and better understand how it operates, since the new rules required us to design an entirely new vehicle. From a design perspective, the regulations demanded massive effort, so it was fantastic to see the car leave the garage for the first time. We were able to gain a more complete understanding of the car’s systems and observe how the components interact on track, along with receiving valuable feedback from Lando, now that he’s physically driven the car. This foundational knowledge will be invaluable when we arrive in Bahrain, where we will focus more on fine-tuning the car. Overall, it was a strong start, and we’re excited to see Oscar in the cockpit tomorrow.”

As the sun sets on a successful opening day for the world champions, the focus shifts to Oscar Piastri, who will take over testing duties. The initial data suggests that McLaren has transitioned into the 2026 regulations with the same clinical efficiency that defined their championship-winning campaign. While there is still a mountain of work ahead to optimize the MCL40’s unique aerodynamic package, starting the year with 77 trouble-free laps is exactly the statement of intent the rest of the grid expected from the team carrying the number 1. The baseline has been set, and the “Papaya” squad appears ready to defend their crown with full force.