McLaren's Piastri shows strong pace in Bahrain pre-season testing

Oscar Piastri finished just 0.01 seconds behind George Russell on the opening day of the second pre-season test in Bahrain, signaling promising early pace for McLaren. The team completed a productive day of aerodynamic assessments and tire work across changing conditions, with both Piastri and Lando Norris logging valuable laps as they refine the MCL38.

Why it matters:

While pre-season testing times are notoriously difficult to interpret, Piastri's proximity to the Mercedes at the top of the timesheet is a positive indicator for McLaren's winter development. After ending 2023 as arguably the second-fastest team, confirming their place within a tight top-four group—comprising Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and themselves—is a crucial first step for their 2024 ambitions.

The details:

• Piastri's best time of 1:33.469s was set in the afternoon session, during which he completed 70 laps and sampled the softer C4 Pirelli tyre compound.
• Teammate Lando Norris drove in the cooler morning conditions, focusing on power unit modes and the harder C1-C3 tyre compounds over 54 laps.
• McLaren's technical program involved "higher-value setup and systems work," including running with aerodynamic rakes to collect data.
• Technical Director Mark Temple noted the team gathered "important data" from the variety of conditions, which saw different wind and temperature effects between the two sessions.

What's next:

The true competitive order remains shrouded in mystery due to unknown fuel loads and engine modes. However, the final two days of testing in Bahrain will offer further clues as teams shift more focus toward performance runs. The first real answer will come at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in one week, with a clearer picture emerging by the Australian Grand Prix in early March.