Renault-powered McLaren 2018 F1 car hits track for first time
McLaren's Renault-powered 2018 Formula 1 car has run on track for the first time ahead of pre-season testing
The McLaren MCL33 was revealed online early on Friday morning and the team is using one of its filming days to shake the car down at the Navarra circuit in Spain.
Fernando Alonso got behind the wheel of the car and will also drive it first in pre-season testing at Barcelona next week.
Fernando fires up and heads down the pitlane. A proud moment for the team as our #MCL33 lays rubber for the first time. #BeBrave ? pic.twitter.com/FwOnnGeDMw
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 23, 2018
McLaren will make the 300-mile journey east from Navarra, in northern Spain, to Barcelona for the start of the four-day test that begins on Monday.
The Haas team has already started running at Barcelona, where it is also using one of its filming days. Romain Grosjean is driving the VF18 for the first time.
Blasting by on another lap at @Circuitcat_eng. @RGrosjean doing the business in the new #VF18.#FilmingDay #HaasF1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/p6vHRIN40I
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) February 23, 2018
The runs by McLaren and Haas mean six of the 10 2018 F1 cars have already hit the track.
Red Bull kicked off the on-track running on Monday with a Silverstone shakedown that ended prematurely because of a Daniel Ricciardo crash.
Valtteri Bottas drove Mercedes' 2018 challenger at the British Grand Prix venue on Thursday shortly after the W09 was revealed.
Sauber completed running with its car a day earlier, while Toro Rosso was also in action on Wednesday and revealed an image of its challenger from Misano.
Force India is the only team still to offer an image its new car, although Ferrari, Williams and Renault have not run theirs on track yet.
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