Lando Norris has once again grabbed headlines, not for his on-track Formula 1 exploits but for his participation in a private McLaren Hypercar test at Portimao, Portugal, last Monday. The reigning F1 world champion took time out of his busy schedule, fresh from a podium finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, to sample the MCL-HY. This move has immediately sparked speculation that the British driver is opening the door to a debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with McLaren in 2027.
McLaren is indeed preparing to return to the top tier of sportscar racing, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans, in 2027. The Hypercar programme was officially announced last year, with track testing beginning in early 2026. The Portimao test marked the fifth session for the MCL-HY prototype, and Norris's presence added a different dimension. He completed 38 laps, providing technical feedback alongside McLaren sportscar drivers Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor.
In his statement, Norris expressed his delight at the new experience. "First of all, a big thanks to the McLaren Hypercar Team for letting me drive the MCL-HY," he said. "It was great for them to give me a chance to have a bit of fun and try something new, particularly during their busy preparations for next year." Norris also added that the data collected was valuable, and he hoped to bring a different set of feelings and perspectives useful for the team.
For Norris, this was no ordinary test. He hadn't driven anything other than an F1 car for years. "I've not done a proper test in anything other than an F1 car for years now, so the fact I got to try something different, especially still as part of the McLaren family, was very special," he continued. The previous occasion was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, where he first drove the car and expressed interest in competing at Le Mans with McLaren's Hypercar team.
McLaren Hypercar team boss James Barclay welcomed Norris's involvement. "We are all racers at McLaren Racing, and competing in Formula 1, IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship creates exciting cross-series opportunities," said Barclay. "Lando was keen to drive the MCL-HY beyond his Goodwood Hill run, so we invited him to join our private Portimao test. As we fully expected, he adapted very quickly, integrated seamlessly and provided valuable feedback to support the car's development." Barclay also looks forward to welcoming Norris back to the Hypercar team soon.
The McLaren Hypercar team is run by United Autosports, which has fielded McLaren cars in WEC and Le Mans in the LMGT3 class. For 2027, the driver line-up is yet to be finalised. Only Jensen, a former Peugeot Hypercar driver, and Vanthoor, a Porsche factory star, have been confirmed. Vanthoor will combine his WEC commitments with McLaren with an IMSA SportsCar Championship campaign with Porsche.
Speculation about Norris's Le Mans debut grows stronger given his previously stated ambitions. While his main focus remains defending his F1 title, the opportunity to race in endurance with McLaren could be an attractive prospect. Moreover, McLaren has a long history at Le Mans, and their return to the Hypercar class marks a new chapter. With Norris's involvement in testing, it's not impossible that we'll see him racing at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in the coming years.
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