McLaren tested new aerodynamic parts and a new driver at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit Tuesday, and the new driver, Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen, turned in the fastest lap of the day, his first time in a Formula One car.
Magnussen lapped Yas Marina in 1:42.651—considerably slower than Lewis Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying time of 1:40.630 last Saturday but good enough for 17th on the grid—eight full-time F1 drivers would have started behind him. Not bad for Magnussen’s first F1 ride.
19-year-old Kevin is the son of former McLaren racer and tester Jan Magnussen—the genes hold true in this case.
Magnussen turned 40 laps in the morning session. McLaren test driver Gary Paffett used the afternoon to evaluate several aerodynamic and suspension upgrades being considered for the rest of this season or for the 2013 model.
Paffett will finish parts test Wednesday morning, and 25-year-old Oliver Turvey, who has been testing with McLaren since May, will be behind the wheel Wednesday afternoon.
