McLaren is preparing to run two cars in the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 tyre test to make good on the time lost due to cancellation of Interlagos test
The test will give Lando Norris another chance to add more F1 miles to his driving log.
Most of the other teams have completed their testing of the 2018 Pirelli tyres. However, McLaren had to cancel their test in Brazil due to security concerns.
The late cancellation also cost Norris an entire day of travelling. But with the new test, the F3 champion may get a chance to drive along Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne and clock some more miles in McLaren’s F1 car. Both Alonso and Vandoorne are scheduled to spend a few hours in the tyre testing.
Pirelli is planning to run one McLaren on blind development work and the second one along with nine other teams will be on the 2018 tyres. The proposal has been sent to FIA race director Charlie Whiting for approval.
While the 2018 line-up of tyres has already been defined, the Brazilian track was expected to be the last chance to test the harder compounds in the new range, the work that McLaren will now perform.
McLaren has already prepared a car with engine mileage and personal on the ground to run the extra car.
Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola said: “We want to try to recover some of the testing we missed in Brazil,”
“Obviously we have to review the run plan, because we can’t run the harder compounds here, it make no sense, so we’ll be testing some different items. We are waiting final confirmation from the FIA.”
It is not the first time a blind test will go alongside the regular running. Back in August, Mercedes gave Valtteri Bottas to Pirelli for development work while George Russell took the tyre testing duty.
