McLaren break down three times on day one of second test

McLaren's testing woes returned with a vengeance on Tuesday as they endured three mechanical failures on the first day of the second pre-season event. Despite ditching Honda for Renault in 2018, the team's reliability issues bit hard as Stoffel Vandoorne completed just 38 laps.

Minor issues and a Fernando Alonso spin into the gravel in the first test had left McLaren with fewer laps under their belt than all but three teams in last week's test.

But they were rock-bottom of the mileage charts on Tuesday after suffering three separate issues.

Vandoorne broke down twice inside the opening two hours of the session, coming to a rest on the home straight and in the pit lane at the Circuit de Catalunya.

#F1Testing update: we suffered a power shutdown during Stoff’s last run, meaning we lost data. The team are investigating, but we’ll be back out as soon as we can. pic.twitter.com/OYQxEZ8OKm — McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 6, 2018

The red flags were out again for the Belgian in the afternoon, a reported hydraulic problem again leaving him stranded out on track.

To further rub salt into the wounds of McLaren chiefs and fans alike, Toro Rosso once again pounded the track with a Honda engine which has apparently developed fine reliability.

Pierre Gasly put in 51 laps before lunch on Tuesday, improving on an impressive pre-season so far, which saw Toro Rosso complete more laps than any other team in test one.

Sebastian Vettel was the undoubted star performer of Tuesday, topping the timesheets with a 1:20.396 and completing a whopping 171 laps - the most of any driver on a single day so far.

Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas completed 177 laps between them, with places in the top four either side of Max Verstappen.

Verstappen had endured a frustrating first test, and did bring out a red flag late in the day, but he will be satisfied, having got 130 laps under his belt.

???????????? Chequered flag!!! Long runs day at the Circuit! No competitive times... but lot of action on track! Vettel best time! #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/271v1uQaTz — Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (@Circuitcat_eng) March 6, 2018