June 22, (THEWILL) – A McLaren employee was taken to the hospital following a fire at the Formula One team’s paddock headquarters before final practice and qualifying, at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Circuit de Catalunya, forcing the team to evacuate their hospitality hub.
McLaren reported that emergency services and the local fire brigade responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within minutes of the alarm being raised. The fire was quickly extinguished, preventing further damage or injuries. The team expressed gratitude to rival teams for their offers of assistance during the emergency.
Despite the dramatic scenes, with fire engines in the paddock and the area around the team hospitality cordoned off, the incident appeared to have minimal impact on McLaren’s drivers. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who use the temporary structure as their base in the paddock, continued with their preparations for the day’s events.
Norris also demonstrated impressive form during final practice, clocking the second-fastest time. His teammate Piastri performed well too, finishing in 10th position. This suggests that the team managed to maintain focus on their racing objectives despite the earlier disruption.
McLaren emphasised that all team personnel and guests were accounted for following the incident. The hospitalised team member was taken for medical attention as a precautionary measure.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
