McLaren were forced to evacuate their hospitality suite at the Spanish Grand Prix due to a fire.
McLaren confirmed on Saturday morning that their team had all safely left their unit at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ahead of Saturday’s third practice session, with local fire brigade in attendance to extinguish what was reported to be a small electrical blaze.
The Press Association reported that British driver Lando Norris was among those safely evacuated from the team motorhome, before taking part in FP3 as normal alongside Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri.
“This morning we evacuated our Team Hub paddock hospitality unit following a fire alert, the team has been safely evacuated while the local fire brigade handle the issue,” McLaren confirmed in a statement on social media.
Norris ended up going second-fastest in FP3, behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by only 0.03 seconds.
Lewis Hamilton had set the pace for Mercedes during FP2 on Friday ahead of both Sainz and Norris, with Norris clocking the fastest time in the weekend’s opening practice session.
Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix takes place later on Saturday afternoon at 3pm BST, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen looking for back-to-back victories on Sunday after beating Norris and fellow Brit George Russell to glory at a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal a fortnight ago.
Norris is currently third in the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Standings, 63 points behind leader Verstappen and only seven shy of second-place Charles Leclerc of Ferrari with 131, having achieved his maiden race win in Miami last month.
McLaren have enjoyed a real renaissance over recent months and sit third in the Constructors’ Standings, 89 points adrift of leaders Red Bull and 40 behind Ferrari.
