Pirelli has completed a two-day tire test on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The tire manufacturer was on the Spanish route for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday to test dry tires for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With McLaren and Ferrari, the two top teams of the expired Formula 1 season 2024 were on site. For Ferrari, the two regular pilots Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc drove in a modified SF-24 from last year on both days, McLaren started vice world champion Lando Norris on Tuesday in an MCL60 from the 2023 season, and Oscar Piatri took over on Wednesday.
In total, Pirelli drove 632 rounds on both days, which were somewhat justified among both teams: McLaren drove 311 rounds, Ferrari more tens in the test.
Norris came to 159 laps on Tuesday, team -mate Piatri on Wednesday on 152nd Hamilton, 161 laps (87 on Tuesday and 74 on Wednesday), and Leclerc laid 160 rounds (86 on Tuesday and 74 on Wednesday).
Formula 1: Charles Leclerc the fastest
Times played no role in the test drives in Barcelona, as the tire manufacturer emphasizes. Nevertheless, the Italians deliver them in their press release. The fastest was Charles Leclerc on Wednesday in 1: 14.9 minutes after Lando Norris achieved the best time in 1: 15.2 minutes.
Piatri came to a 1:15 8, Hamilton’s fastest round on both days was 1:15 minutes. The times were around three and a half seconds above that of qualifying for the Grand Prix 2024.
“It was a very useful session, especially to compare the various constructions for the next season and to experiment with some mixtures from the harder area,” says Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola.
“The route in Barcelona is known as one of the most demanding for the tires in terms of energy expenditure and the dismantling. Therefore, the information we have collected on these two busy days will be very important for the future development of this generation of tire.”
After the test in Le Castellet last week, the test in Barcelona was the second of a total of four planned ripening tests of Pirelli before the 2025 season. will drive, McLaren and Mercedes each.
The conclusion is another test in Bahrain on March 2 and 3, in which Alpine and Williams will take part. Shortly before (February 26th to 28th), the regular winter test of all ten teams is on the same route.
“It is a really demanding start to the year with four test sessions, before the season begins,” says Isola, “and I want to thank all the teams who work with us, because we know how busy they are at the moment.”