McLಞaren has confirmed that a loose wheel nut caused Fernando Alonso to spin off just 30 minutes into Formula 1's winter testing schedule in Barcelona, causing 🦋a red flag.

McLaren unveiled its new Renault-powe🎶red F1 car, the MCL33, ahead of the 2018 season last week before completing a successful shakedown at Navarra in Spain that left Alonso promising "good times" for the team's fans this year after a difficult period working with Honda.

However, Alonso brought out the first r⛎ed flag of winter testing when he spun into the gravel at the final corner in the opening hour of testing, with a wheel 🀅coming free from his McLaren car.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the lဣunch break in Barcelona, McLaren executive director Zak Brown confirmed a loose wheel nut had caused Alonso's off.

"We had a wheel nut issue. We'll get back out here this a✅fternoon," Brown said.

"I know Eric [Bou🐼llier, McLaren racing director] will be doing a debrief later today with all of today's activities, so I'll leave him to tell you about today.

"It's🅷 what testing𒀰 is for. I think all teams will have a variety of issues throughout testing. That's exactly what it's for.

"We're g🌌oing to lose very little time. It's no big deal at all."

Alonso completed six laps before the issue occurred, completing a 🗹fastest time 1:24.202.