De Vries logs 69 laps in McLaren’s 2025 title-winning car

Nyck de Vries completed 69 laps in McLaren’s MCL39 during a two-day TPC test at Jerez, sharing the car with reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli. McLaren used the MCL39 in 2025, when the team won the constructors’ title and Lando Norris became drivers’ champion.

De Vries, McLaren’s test and development driver, covered 306 kilometres. It was his first TPC outing for the team in 2026. He called the chance to drive the MCL39 a great experience and said time on track supports his work in the role.

Fornaroli, McLaren’s reserve driver and the 2025 Formula 2 champion, completed 58 laps. The running helped him build experience to be ready to step in for Norris or Oscar Piastri; he said his programme included long runs, different balance set-ups and some laps on intermediate tyres.

Fornaroli said the Jerez test followed his two FP1 sessions in Mexico City and São Paulo and marked the end of his test programme within McLaren’s Driver Development Programme. He said he would return to the United States to support the team in the final races of 2026 and be involved with McLaren’s F1 and Hypercar teams in 2027.