F1 test | McLaren shares Bahrain insights as Norris leads and Piastri gathers data. McLaren wraps up the first F1 Bahrain test day with Lando Norris setting the fastest.

McLaren provides first insights from the F1 Bahrain tests: Norris already leads the times, while Piastri is satisfied with the program

McLaren concluded the first day of F1 testing in Bahrain focused on methodical work and data collection. Lando Norris set the fastest overall time, while Oscar Piastri dedicated his morning to an intensive program of aerodynamic testing.

Norris: “Positive day, we learned a lot”

Lando Norris completed 58 laps, setting the fastest time at 1’34”669. While this put him at the top of the timing sheets, the British driver emphasized the technical aspects of the session above all.

“It was great to be back in the car today. We completed many elements of the test program, gathering a lot of data to analyze and gaining a better understanding of the car. Obviously, here in Bahrain with the sun, the conditions are very different compared to Barcelona—it’s very hot and quite windy. It was interesting to see how much the car’s behavior changes,” Norris explained. The McLaren number 1 added: “It was a positive day, we learned a lot, and I’m looking forward to getting back in the car tomorrow.”

Piastri: “Better feel, now we analyze the data”

Oscar Piastri wrapped up his session with 54 laps and a best time of 1’35”602, the fifth fastest overall. The Australian highlighted that the main priority was to better understand the car’s behavior under conditions different from those in Spain.

“A good first morning in the car. Everything went smoothly, and I feel I have a better understanding of what the car is doing and what it needs. The conditions here are very different from Barcelona, so it was useful to drive in a different environment,” Piastri said. The McLaren driver concluded: “Now we’ll analyze the data, see what we can learn, and figure out how to improve before returning to the track.”

Focus on aerodynamics and data collection at McLaren

The team confirmed that the day was structured around a targeted work plan, prioritizing learning and development over outright performance. Both Norris and Piastri conducted important aerodynamic tests in conditions very different from those in Barcelona. For this reason, the team chose to focus on data collection, even if it meant not maximizing total mileage.

The work completed provides a solid foundation to build on during the coming days of testing, with the goal of further refining the MCL40 package ahead of the season start.