Photo: McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

McLaren miss afternoon session in Barcelona as champions run into trouble

18:03, 29 Jan

Updated: 18:24, 29 Jan

byOlly Darcy

2025 constructors' championship McLaren have run into trouble during the penultimate day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

"We've decided to bring it back into the garage, strip it down fully and understand where the problem is coming from."

- Mark Temple - McLaren's Technical Director, Performance

After World Champion Lando Norris took to the track for the British team yesterday, teammate Oscar Piastri did so this morning, finishing second behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.

However, despite conducting a smooth morning session, no running has been done by McLaren or Piastri this afternoon due to an issue with the fuel system.

"We've not been able to do all the running that we would like," explained Mark Temple, McLaren's Technical Director, Performance.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri celebrating McLaren's 2025 Constructors' Championship victory - Photo: Race Pictures

"We discovered a fuel system problem, and the car's very complex, so we've decided to bring it back into the garage, strip it down fully and understand where the problem is coming from.

"Obviously, that means we're not back out on track at the moment."

Friday will mark the final day of testing in Barcelona before all 11 teams travel to Bahrain for more winter testing.

Mercedes showing off impressive pace

Throughout the week of testing in Barcelona, it has been Mercedes who have been at the top of the timing sheets, and Thursday has been reportedly the same.

After Antonelli took P1 in the morning session, teammate George Russell found even more pace to unofficially break the one-minute-17-second barrier and set an outstanding benchmark for the rest of the grid.

In the afternoon session, Aston Martin also hit the track for the very first time in 2026, with Lance Stroll behind the wheel of the Adrian Newey-designed machine.

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