Norris loses crucial running as gearbox issue strikes McLaren in Spanish GP practice

Lando Norris's Spanish Grand Prix preparations were disrupted as a gearbox issue forced him to cut short his running in second practice at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. The McLaren driver managed just two installation laps before reporting a "false neutral", sending him back to the garage and out of the car.

Why it matters:

With F1 making its debut at the 22-corner Madring, track time is at a premium. Drivers and teams are still learning the circuit's nuances, and any missed running can have a knock-on effect on qualifying and race setup. For a championship contender like Norris, losing vital practice laps ahead of Sunday's race could prove costly.

The details:

• Norris reported the gearbox issue early in the hour-long session, forcing McLaren to send him back to the garage.
• McLaren confirmed it "had identified an issue on Lando's car, which requires a gearbox change", and said it was "working to try and get Lando back out before the end of the session, although time is very tight".
• The incident unfolded in front of legendary footballer Sir David Beckham, who was visiting the McLaren garage.

What's next:

McLaren will be hoping to complete the gearbox change in time for Norris to get some running before the session ends. But even if he returns, the lost time could leave him playing catch-up on a track where every lap counts. With qualifying and the race looming, the team will need to quickly adapt to ensure any damage to their weekend is minimal.