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Pirelli Releases New Data from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Tyre Test Concludes
Pirelli recently wrapped up an important two-day tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, involving Ferrari and McLaren as part of preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The test aimed to help Pirelli refine their slick tyre compounds for the upcoming regulations. Charles Leclerc, representing Ferrari, posted the fastest lap of the session.
The test included Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as well as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. It was an essential part of Pirelli’s ongoing work on the 2026 tyre regulations. The teams ran modified versions of their 2024 cars, which had adjustments to simulate the downforce levels expected in the 2026 F1 cars, which are predicted to have about 20% less downforce compared to the 2025 models. One of the major changes for the 2026 tyres is a reduction in size: the front tyres will be 25 millimetres smaller, and the rear tyres will shrink by 30 millimetres. This test marked the first opportunity for Ferrari and McLaren to provide feedback on these key changes.
Leclerc displayed strong performance during the test, completing 74 laps with a fastest time of 1:14.971, which was almost a second faster than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who set a time of 1:15.815 after also completing 74 laps. Lewis Hamilton, driving a second Ferrari, finished with a time of 1:16.759 after 152 laps, trailing Piastri by nearly a second. Leclerc’s lap time was a significant improvement over his performance on Tuesday, when Hamilton had posted a faster time of 1:15.93, beating Leclerc by 0.13 seconds. However, both Ferrari drivers were still over 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, Leclerc had shaved more than a second off his time, while Hamilton’s best effort was around 0.8 seconds slower than his Tuesday performance.
It’s important to note that these lap times are not directly comparable to those in a typical race weekend, as each driver followed a unique testing program as outlined by Pirelli. The focus of the test was to gather data on different tyre constructions, and tyre testing requires a distinct skill set from the competitive nature of a Grand Prix.
Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport, Mario Isola, reflected positively on the test, calling it a valuable session for understanding the different tyre constructions for next season. He highlighted the significance of testing at the Barcelona circuit, known for its challenging impact on tyres. The data gathered over the two days will be crucial for the development of the next generation of tyres. Isola also acknowledged the teams’ efforts, noting that it’s a busy start to the year with multiple test sessions before the official season begins.
Looking ahead, Pirelli’s next tyre test will take place in Jerez on February 13th and 14th. Alpine will take the lead in the test, with McLaren and Mercedes also participating in separate one-day tests. These sessions will continue to provide essential data for the development of the 2026 tyre compounds. After the pre-season testing in Bahrain, further tests will be conducted, with Alpine and Williams scheduled to run additional tyre tests on March 2nd and 3rd, marking the final phase of the tyre development process.
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