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Pirelli Releases New Data from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Tyre Test Concludes

Pirelli recently concluded a crucial two-day tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Ferrari and McLaren participating to aid in the development of the 2026 slick tyre compounds. Charles Leclerc, representing Ferrari, ended the test as the fastest driver of the session.

The test, which included Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, along with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, was part of Pirelli’s ongoing efforts to prepare for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 tyre regulations. Each team ran modified versions of their 2024 cars, which were tweaked to simulate the expected downforce levels of the 2026 F1 cars. The future cars are anticipated to have around 20 percent less downforce than the 2025 models.

One significant change for the 2026 tyres is their size. The front tyres will be reduced by 25 millimetres, and the rear tyres will shrink by 30 millimetres compared to the current models. This week’s Barcelona test was the first opportunity for Ferrari and McLaren to provide feedback on these key changes.

Charles Leclerc Sets the Fastest Time

Leclerc showcased strong pace on Wednesday, completing 74 laps with a fastest time of 1:14.971, comfortably ahead of the other two drivers. His best lap time was nearly a second faster than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who set a time of 1:15.815 over an equal 74-lap run. Meanwhile, Hamilton, driving the second Ferrari, was a further nine-tenths of a second behind Piastri, posting a time of 1:16.759 after 152 laps.

Leclerc’s improvement over his Tuesday performance was notable. The day before, Hamilton had proven faster than his Ferrari teammate, clocking a 1:15.93, beating Leclerc by 0.13 seconds. However, both drivers were more than seven-tenths of a second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who set the overall best time on Tuesday with a 1:15.21 in a modified MCL60. By the end of Wednesday’s session, Leclerc had managed to improve his time by more than a second, while Hamilton’s best time was around 0.8 seconds slower than his best effort from the first day of testing.

Despite the differences in lap times between the drivers, it’s important to note that these times are largely irrelevant in the context of tyre testing. Each driver was following a different programme as laid out by Pirelli, with the goal of gathering data on various tyre constructions. Tyre testing requires a different skill set compared to the competitive nature of a Grand Prix weekend.

Pirelli Reflects on Successful Test

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport, reflected positively on the outcome of the Barcelona test, emphasizing its value for developing next-generation tyres.

“It was a very useful session, particularly when it came to providing a comparison between the various different constructions for next season,” Isola said. “As well as experimenting with some compounds from the harder end of the range.”

The Barcelona circuit is known for being especially tough on tyres, making it an ideal location for gathering critical data. “The circuit is one of the most demanding for the tyres in terms of the energy exerted and degradation,” Isola continued. “The information we’ve gathered over these two busy days will be very important for the future development of this generation of tyres.”

Isola also acknowledged the teams’ contributions during the busy testing schedule. “It’s a really demanding start to the year with four test sessions even before the season begins, and I want to thank all the teams that are working with us, because we know how busy they are at the moment.”

Next Steps for Pirelli

With the Barcelona test now complete, Pirelli’s focus shifts to Jerez, where the next tyre test will take place on the 13th and 14th of February. Alpine will lead the test there, with McLaren and Mercedes also participating in separate one-day tests. These sessions will continue to provide valuable data for Pirelli as they refine the 2026 tyre compounds.

Further tests are planned after the official pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Alpine and Williams scheduled to run another set of Pirelli tyre tests on the 2nd and 3rd of March, completing this crucial phase of the tyre development process.