Lando Norris Completes First Full Test in McLaren Hypercar at Portimao

Reigning Formula 1 champion Lando Norris completed his first full test in McLaren's Le Mans Hypercar at Portimao on Monday, logging 38 laps and 177 miles in the MCL-HY. The one-day session came just days after a frustrating Spanish Grand Prix, where an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car denied him victory.

Why it matters:

McLaren is ramping up its World Endurance Championship program ahead of its Hypercar debut in 2027, and involving its F1 stars is a clear sign of intent. With Norris and Oscar Piastri both linked to future Le Mans outings, McLaren is positioning itself as a serious cross-series contender while developing its LMDh machine.

The details:

• Norris tested several development items and used his F1 experience to provide feedback to the engineering team.
• He was joined by McLaren's 2027 WEC drivers Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, who continued their own development work.
• This was Norris' second run in the MCL-HY, following a demo at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
• McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has previously expressed interest in fielding Norris and Piastri at Le Mans, potentially via a third car.
• Norris said it was "a fun day in a quick car" and hoped his fresh perspective would help "in this crucial testing period."

What's next:

Whether Norris appears at Le Mans will depend on calendar clashes. The 2027 Le Mans weekend is set for June 12-13, but F1 has yet to publish its schedule. McLaren Hypercar team principal James Barclay left the door open for more outings, saying the team looks forward to welcoming Norris back soon.