McLaren is completing the final day of Formula 1 testing with a partial solution to its braking problems but must wait until next week’s season-opener for a final fix.
The team has had to make on-site modifications and fly in upgraded parts to complete race simulations after suffering front brake cooling problems in Bahrain.
That has limited Lando Norris to short runs and left McLaren with the lowest lap tally of any team this week.
LAP COUNT AFTER 2.5 DAYS IN BAHRAIN
AlphaTauri 314
Mercedes 314
Ferrari 298
Alfa Romeo 275
Red Bull 267
Aston Martin 258
Alpine 231
Williams 189
Haas 168
McLaren 149
“Overnight we made modifications to the parts we have at the track, we received some new parts as well, in order to reduce the challenge we are facing here,” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said.
“So we made another step which allowed us also today in the morning to run more laps and run continuous laps.
“We definitely made another step but in the end, we need to wait now for next week, because we simply need the time in order to make final step we have to make to be back in good shape again.
“At the moment, we reinforce some of the parts to make sure that we have a car in good shape towards the end of the test in the afternoon when the track is in the most relevant condition in terms of preparation for next weekend.”
McLaren had been able to undertake some set-up work and evaluate some car upgrades while the changes for the final day finally let Norris complete some longer runs.
However, Norris – who has conducted all of the driving solo this week as Daniel Ricciardo has COVID-19 – said there was no denying McLaren’s position is weaker than hoped.
“Although I’ve done two and a half days now it’s not been the smoothest of tests for us,” he said during Saturday’s lunchbreak.
“It’s been quite limited here in Bahrain. I think Barcelona was a good one. But here we’ve encountered quite a few more problems which have limited the amount of laps we’ve done by quite a huge amount, especially on the long run stuff.
“The lower fuel and shorter runs we were able to do but not the high fuel runs.
“So we’re behind definitely from where we want to be, where we need to be. And where we can say we’re confident in any way going into the first race.
“Not great, but we’re still getting through as much as we can. We’re definitely making progress but definitely not the position we want to be in.”
In addition to McLaren’s limited work on its MCL36, its driver Ricciardo faces the unenviable prospect of starting the 2022 season having only completed 1.5 days at Barcelona.
McLaren hoped he would be able to drive this week after falling unwell but Ricciardo’s positive COVID-19 test on Friday put paid to that.
He should be out of mandatory isolation in time for next weekend’s race and his condition is said to be improving.
Seidl hopes that the “small disadvantage starting the race next week” will not linger long into the season itself.
“We are confident he will be fit again next weekend,” said Seidl.
“He seemed better already. But it simply takes a few days until you’re fully back.
“In terms of reserve drivers, we have an agreement with Mercedes to share reserve drivers [Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries]. We have also Paul di Resta similar to last year on standby in case it’s needed.
“But again, expect Daniel to be back in good shape next week.
“In terms of preparation going into the season, obviously, that’s not what we’re aiming for.
“Definitely puts us and Daniel on the back foot as well. But in the end, it was something we or Daniel couldn’t control. We simply have to accept this.”
