Lando Norris completes maiden full McLaren Hypercar test at Portimao

Reigning Formula 1 champion Lando Norris completed his first full test of the McLaren MCL-HY Le Mans Hypercar at Portimao on Monday. Following the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit, where he was denied victory by an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car, Norris traveled to Portugal for the one-day session.

The Briton completed 38 laps of the Algarve International Circuit in the V6-powered LMDh challenger, covering 177 miles. McLaren stated the program included testing development items and gathering feedback through Norris’s F1 experience.

Norris was assisted by future McLaren Hypercar drivers Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, who conducted further development work ahead of the British manufacturer’s 2027 debut.

“First of all, a big thanks to the McLaren Hypercar Team for letting me drive the MCL-HY,” Norris said. “It was great to try something new during their busy preparations for next year. I think we collected valuable data, and I hope I brought different perspectives useful for the team. It was cool to work with this team and exciting to try new machinery. I’ve not done a proper test in anything other than an F1 car for years, so doing this as part of the McLaren family was special. It was a fun day in a quick car on a cool track, helping prepare for WEC next year. I can’t wait to get back in the car.”

The test follows Norris’s first sampling of the MCL-HY at its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown previously expressed interest in fielding both Norris and Oscar Piastri in WEC’s blue-riband event, though any outing depends on the team running an additional third car. A Le Mans appearance would only be possible with no clashes with Norris’s 2027 F1 commitments. While the full 2027 WEC calendar was revealed three months ago with Le Mans scheduled for June 12-13, F1 has yet to publish its schedule amid the conflict in West Asia.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: McLaren

Speaking on Monday, McLaren Hypercar team principal James Barclay left the door open for further outings for Norris, without explicitly mentioning race appearances. “We are all racers at McLaren Racing, and competing in Formula 1, INDYCAR and the World Endurance Championship creates exciting cross-series opportunities,” he said. “Lando was keen to drive the MCL-HY beyond his Goodwood Hill run, so we invited him to join our private Portimão test. As expected, he adapted quickly, integrated seamlessly, and provided valuable feedback to support the car’s development. It was a pleasure to have him with us, we wish him success for the rest of the Formula 1 season, and look forward to welcoming him back into the McLaren Hypercar Team soon.”

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: McLaren

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