Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris has completed his first full day of testing in the McLaren MCL-HY Le Mans Hypercar at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao.
The test took place on Monday, just days after Norris was denied victory at the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit by an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car.
Norris crossed the border into Portugal to take part in a one-day private session with the McLaren Hypercar squad, completing 38 laps of the Portuguese circuit.
The F1 champion covered a total of 177 miles in the V6-powered LMDh challenger throughout the day, working through several development items during the programme.
McLaren noted that Norris brought his extensive Formula 1 experience to bear, providing detailed feedback to support the team’s ongoing development of the car.
He was joined at Portimao by McLaren’s confirmed 2027 Hypercar drivers Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, who also continued their own development work throughout the day.
“It was great for them to give me a chance to have a bit of fun and try something new, particularly during their busy preparations for next year,” Norris said following the test.
“I’ve not done a proper test in anything other than an F1 car for years now, so the fact I got to try something different, especially still as part of the McLaren family, was very special.”
Norris also expressed enthusiasm about returning to the car, saying, “I can’t wait to get back in the car in the future,” fuelling widespread speculation about a potential race appearance.
The Portimao outing follows Norris first sampling the MCL-HY at the car’s public debut during the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, representing a clear step up in his involvement with the programme.
McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown has previously expressed interest in fielding both Norris and Oscar Piastri at Le Mans, though any such appearance may require the team to field a third car entry.
A Le Mans race start for Norris in 2027 would depend heavily on whether there are any scheduling conflicts with his Formula 1 commitments, with the F1 calendar for next year yet to be published.
The 2027 WEC schedule, revealed three months ago, has pencilled in Le Mans for the weekend of 12-13 June, meaning any clash with F1 remains to be determined.
McLaren Hypercar team principal James Barclay was encouraging when asked about the prospect of Norris featuring again, saying, “We look forward to welcoming him back into the McLaren Hypercar Team soon.”
“As we fully expected he adapted very quickly, integrated seamlessly and provided valuable feedback to support the car’s development,” Barclay added, praising Norris’s contribution to the day’s programme.