Back to the Auto Racing Newsfeed

McLaren fastest as Mercedes hits problems on day five of F1 testing

MONTMELO, Spain -- McLaren started the second week of Formula One's pre-season testing with the fastest time, after Lando Norris set a 1:17.709 in the final hour of the afternoon session.

The time was 0.4s shy of the best lap from last week's test and put McLaren at the top of the timesheets for the first time this year. It coincided with McLaren's former driver Fernando Alonso visiting the paddock for the first time since he walked away from F1 last year.

Norris set the time on the C4 tyre -- the second softest compound in Pirelli's range -- compared to the C5 used for the fastest Nico Hulkenberg's fastest time last week.