After a positive week in the first Formula 1 pre-season tests at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, McLaren is experiencing more difficult moments in Sakhir after suffering unexpected brake overheating problems.
The team was unable to find a solution to the problem on track and Lando Norris saw his test program on the first day of testing in Bahrain reduced in length.
The McLaren factory immediately went to work manufacturing new brake ducts for improved thermal management, and those new parts are expected to arrive in Bahrain on time before Saturday, the final day of pre-season testing.
Andreas Seidl , team manager, admitted that the situation is not easy for the structure.
“After the good test we had in Barcelona, this first day and a half here has definitely not gone according to plan,” he said on Friday.
“We’ve had an unexpected problem with the front axle brakes that we have to sort out. So it’s a race against time at the moment to build new, improved parts.”
“We will take steps forward with some modifications that we can do on track and it will also allow us to continue working on the car. We could even make some small improvements to the car, with the aim of extracting more performance from the package.”
However, despite all the problems, Seidl was confident that even if the new parts did not arrive by the final day of testing, the team would be up to speed before the first race of the 2022 Formula 1 season, which will be held next weekend.
“I remain optimistic, despite the filming time we’ve lost and the limited laps we can do, I think in the end we’ll be able to leave here well prepared for the first weekend of racing,” he added.
As well as suffering from brake problems, McLaren was without Daniel Ricciardo for the first two days of testing. The Australian is indisposed and has not been able to get into the car.
Seidl was hoping that, after some better news from him, Ricciardo would be able to get back in the car on Saturday.
“It’s good to see that he’s improving significantly and feeling better,” he said. “So I’m pretty optimistic about the chances of him getting back in the car tomorrow,” he concluded.
