McLaren completes Portimão TPC running as Norris, Piastri and Fornaroli share MCL60
McLaren takes pre-break running to Portugal
McLaren used the final days before Formula 1’s summer break to add valuable track time in Portugal, with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Leonardo Fornaroli sharing the team’s 2023-specification MCL60 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
The session formed part of McLaren’s Testing of Previous Cars programme and provided a different focus from the running carried out by Aston Martin, Alpine and Audi in Hungary. The Portuguese circuit will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2027 and 2028 under a two-year agreement, giving Norris and Piastri an early opportunity to reacquaint themselves with a venue that will soon feature on the championship schedule.
Piastri completed the most mileage, recording 55 laps during his first-ever laps of the Portimão F1 track. The Australian highlighted the circuit’s elevation changes, explaining that they “made it really fun” to drive.
Norris, meanwhile, logged 49 laps at a venue with a personal connection. The McLaren driver returned to the scene of his first F1 test, which took place there in 2017. His running followed a strong Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, whose outcome is examined in our analysis of the six decisive laps that won Norris the race.
Fornaroli continues McLaren development work
Fornaroli completed 47 laps, adding another run in the MCL60 to his experience with McLaren’s previous-generation machinery. The F2 champion is part of the team’s Driver Development Programme and serves as a reserve driver for the F1 squad.
His Portugal programme also came immediately after an FP1 appearance for McLaren in Hungary, making the Algarve session a particularly busy stretch of track activity. McLaren said the test gave Fornaroli the chance to observe both of its F1 drivers and gain first-hand insight into their driving and the way they deliver feedback to the team.
For Norris and Piastri, the session also offered a chance to familiarise themselves with a circuit F1 will visit next year. With all three drivers completing substantial mileage, McLaren has now concluded its pre-break track work and will step away from the circuit before the championship resumes at Zandvoort from August 21 to 23.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.