McLaren makes maximizing Norris track time 'absolute priority' after 'significant' FP2 setback

Lando Norris lost nearly all of FP2 at the Spanish Grand Prix after a gearbox issue sent his MCL40 into 'false neutral,' leaving McLaren scrambling to recover ahead of qualifying. The world champion managed just two slow laps at the Madring and now faces an uphill battle at the brand-new venue.

Why it matters:

With the Spanish GP at a new circuit, every practice lap carries extra weight. Norris has lost a third of the available track time, and with high temperatures and low grip making conditions tricky, he heads into FP3 on the back foot. For a driver fighting to defend his title, that missing data could prove costly in qualifying.

The details:

• The gearbox dropped into 'false neutral' as Norris lost drive, forcing him to sit out FP2.
• McLaren's engineering technical director, performance, Mark Temple called it a "significant challenge" and a "big setback" on such a demanding circuit.
• Overnight work: The team will conduct a "deep dive" into the data, exploring a wider variety of potential changes than usual to give both drivers a more competitive package.
• FP3 focus: Maximizing Norris's track time in the sole remaining hour is the "absolute priority," with qualifying simulations and race pace runs condensed into one session.

What's next:

Norris gets just one hour in FP3 to recover before qualifying. McLaren says it has "clear ideas" on both the chassis and driver side to explore, but with the car not yet where the team wants it, Saturday could be a battle for the world champion.