Breaking: Leclerc Dominates Barcelona Tyre Test as Hamilton day two end in high dramatic…read more
Leclerc Dominates Barcelona Tyre Test as Hamilton day two end in high dramatic…read more
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace in Pirelli’s recent tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, leaving teammate Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri trailing. The two-day session, which featured Ferrari and McLaren, aimed to assist Pirelli in developing its 2026 Formula 1 slick tyres.
For the test, both teams used modified versions of their 2024 cars to simulate the expected downforce levels under the upcoming 2026 regulations. These new rules will introduce a significant reduction in aerodynamic load—roughly 20% less than the 2025 designs. Additionally, the front and rear tyres will be narrower by 25mm and 30mm, respectively.
Hamilton Fastest on Day One, But Norris Leads
Hamilton had a strong start on the first day, emerging as the faster Ferrari driver with a lap time of 1:15.93, narrowly ahead of Leclerc by 0.13 seconds. However, both were outpaced by McLaren’s Lando Norris, who topped the timesheets with a 1:15.21 in the MCL60 mule car.
Leclerc Finds Form as Hamilton Slows
The second day saw a dramatic turnaround, with Leclerc making a significant leap in performance. The Monegasque driver completed 74 laps and posted a blistering 1:14.971, the best time of the test. He outpaced McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by nearly a second, with the Australian setting a personal best of 1:15.815 after an identical lap count.
Hamilton, meanwhile, struggled to maintain his previous form. Despite completing an impressive 152 laps—more than double Leclerc’s mileage—he could only manage a 1:16.759, nearly two seconds adrift of his teammate and 0.8 seconds slower than his own time from the first day.
Norris did not take part in the second day, but his Day One benchmark remained unbeaten by McLaren’s other driver, as Piastri fell six-tenths short.
Final Standings from Day Two
1. Charles Leclerc – 1:14.971 (74 laps)
2. Oscar Piastri – 1:15.815 (+0.844) (74 laps)
3. Lewis Hamilton – 1:16.759 (+1.788) (152 laps)
Leclerc’s dramatic improvement suggests he adapted well to the evolving tyre characteristics, while Hamilton’s struggles indicate difficulties in extracting pace from the new compounds. McLaren also showed strong competitiveness, with Norris maintaining the fastest overall time across both days.
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