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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLando Norris got his first taste of the McLaren MCL40 during the Barcelona shakedown. Image: Formula 1<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLando Norris got his first taste of the McLaren MCL40 during the Barcelona shakedown. Image: Formula 1<\/p>\n
The reigning world champion took to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday in the new McLaren, completing 76 laps in a black-and-grey testing livery.<\/p>\n
It marked the first time since the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the #1 had displayed on a McLaren. The last time that happened was in the hands of 2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was nice to be back,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNice to see a number one on my car. Pretty cool, pretty surreal still, so good feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Briton explained that seeing the number in action \u2014 rather than just knowing it existed \u2014 made the achievement feel real for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw it earlier on the timing screen, and I still find it just unbelievable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still a crazy thing to see, especially when you see it now. Now is the first time I get to see it on my suit, on the car, on timing screens, all of these things, and it looks good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris acknowledged that carrying the number one inevitably brings extra scrutiny, but insisted it has not changed his approach behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill a surreal feeling, the whole situation of being champion,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it doesn\u2019t change anything, apart from the fact that I\u2019m at the top of the timing screens before we\u2019ve even gone out because I\u2019m the lowest number.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, pressure is on, but at the same time, it\u2019s just cool. It\u2019s great for the mechanics, for all of them to have that feeling and that honour, but it doesn\u2019t change anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris also highlighted the significance of seeing the car fully assembled for the first time this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur first day on track, first time that everyone gets to see the car in one piece, it\u2019s literally not been built until this morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible thing. So it\u2019s nice to see it all come together, to see all the hard work that everyone does to make that car, and then I get to go and have some fun and drive it, which turned out to be a decent day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rather than chasing lap times, Norris said the focus was on understanding a car shaped by F1\u2019s sweeping 2026 regulation changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was really a first understanding of the whole car, understanding how it works, going through the manual of everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a productive day, but it\u2019s one that was about figuring stuff out, making sure things are working as they should, understanding things, getting our first picture and all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
While much development work lies ahead, Norris said simply being back in the cockpit \u2014 and doing so as world champion \u2014 was a moment worth savouring.<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise, it\u2019s still a lot of hard work that we have to put into everything, and many laps you\u2019ve got to complete,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s nice to know that I\u2019ve got that number on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri is set to get his first taste of the MCL40 on Thursday, on day four of the test, with both Norris and Piastri expected to share driving duties on the final day.<\/p>\n
Mercedes leads as McLaren joins F1 Barcelona shakedown<\/a><\/p>\n
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