It’s been three months since Formula 1 racing last graced our screens, but behind the scenes, Lando and Oscar have been clocking up mileage at tests in old spec machinery.

Slipping into the cockpit of the MCL35M, the duo dusted off the winter cobwebs and punched in some laps, splitting their time between tests at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, then at Paul Ricard and Silverstone, ahead of official pre-season testing in Bahrain on 23-25 February.

Oscar’s F1 bow is less than three weeks away, with the Aussie youngster set to make his racing debut in the season opener in Sakhir on 3-5 March, and he feels he’s now fully settled into life as a McLaren driver.

“It feels normal to be in papaya now,” he said. “It feels like home, and it is really nice to go out there. It will be even better when I am in the proper race car, it will be really special.

“I have done a few of these tests now and am getting to know everyone well. It’s useful to be working with my trackside engineers, mechanics and the rest of the race team.

“It’s good to bond with them, work on our comms terminology, and get on the same page. We are getting to know each other better, and it has been a good exercise.”

Learning names, finding his way around the MTC and strengthening his neck were among Oscar’s first tasks upon joining - his next task is to find his way around the MCL60.

The 2023 challenger was unveiled at our Team Launch earlier in the week and will be an entirely different beast to 2021’s MCL35M, which was the final car designed prior to 2022’s overhaul.

Although the tests were good for readjusting to life on track, it’s his work in the gym and on our simulator that will prove most effective, given the distinctions between the MCL35M and the MCL60.

“The G-Force on your neck is probably the biggest difference from the junior categories, so I have been training that a lot,” he continued. “I have done a lot of neck training and quite a lot of cardio work as well. I also did a few days in a go-kart over winter to keep sharp and get out on track and drive something.

“I feel that the tests have been very good. It was a lot of fun and helped to get my body used to driving an F1 car again, but it is mostly just nice to get back out there – everyone is refreshed and ready to go. I know I certainly am. I have tried to learn as much as possible before the season starts.”

Oscar’s new teammate Lando also enjoyed some time behind the wheel of his former car. Used in 2021, the MCL35M was the third F1 car Lando had raced and will soon become one of five, with the British racer preparing for his fifth season in F1.

Even after almost half a decade at the wheel, he said that thrashing a Formula 1 car around a circuit never loses its sparkle.

“I love doing it, it’s still exciting,” Lando said. “It is always great to drive an F1 car, and it feels great to get back out on track, getting more experience ahead of the season. Everything went well, and I enjoyed it.

“It was good to get back out there with the engineers. I’ve been training hard over winter, making sure my neck is in good shape for the season and ensuring I am fit and ready to go for 2023.”

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