McLaren MCL40: Late chassis problem hampers Lando Norris’s final test day in Bahrain. McLaren completes F1 winter testing in Bahrain.

McLaren: Norris ends Bahrain test slowed by issue linked to Piastri

Like all the other teams on the grid, McLaren completed its winter testing programme in Bahrain yesterday, bringing to an end three intense and important days of preparation ahead of the new Formula 1 season. The overall feeling inside the team remains positive, despite the gap to the benchmark time set by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who stopped the clock at 1’31’’992. Even so, both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris can look ahead to Melbourne — scheduled from 6 to 8 March — with confidence and optimism.

The final day of testing ran smoothly in the morning for Oscar Piastri, whose programme unfolded without any significant interruptions. Lando Norris’ afternoon session, however, was partially disrupted by an issue identified on the MCL40’s chassis. The problem was likely triggered by the Australian driver at the conclusion of his running earlier in the day, leading to delays while the team carried out the necessary checks and repairs.

Piastri: “I feel in a good position for Melbourne”

Oscar Piastri, who ended the test with the third-fastest overall time of 1’32’’861 — set on Thursday — said: “And testing is now over. Three very productive days this week in Bahrain. I’ve learned a huge amount about these new cars across the nine total days of running we’ve completed since Barcelona. I feel in a good position for the season opener in Melbourne. There’s still a lot of potential to unlock and we’ll need to do that by the time we get to free practice. We’ve prepared well and made progress in every area. Thanks to everyone in the team for getting us to this point. They’ve put in a massive effort. Then Melbourne, my home race. It’s always fantastic to be there. I can’t wait to get back on track and race with the MCL40.”

Norris satisfied with what he learned

Lando Norris, who recorded the fourth-fastest overall time with a 1’32’’871 lap — also achieved on Thursday — commented: “We had a good day. Unfortunately, around lunchtime we found a chassis issue that caused a bit of a delay (he ran from 15:00 to 17:00, ed.). As a result, we weren’t able to complete the planned race simulation. We set a good lap time and carried out the start practice runs we needed. We’ve learned a lot over these nine days, especially regarding the new regulations and the power units. A huge thanks to the team for all the work they’ve done and for allowing us to prepare in the best possible way for Australia. I’m excited to go racing,” he concluded.

While the late chassis glitch prevented a full race distance simulation, McLaren appears to be in the hunt at the sharp end of the grid. The true pecking order of the 2026 era remains a mystery, but both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have shown enough pace to suggest that the MCL40 will be a formidable contender when the lights go out at the Albert Park circuit in Australia.