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Leclerc Tops Pirelli Tyre Test as Hamilton Falls Behind
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Pirelli’s tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finishing well ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The two-day test, conducted by Ferrari and McLaren, was organized to help Pirelli develop its new slick compounds for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
As part of the test, both teams ran modified versions of their 2024 cars, designed to replicate the expected downforce levels of the 2026 regulations. The new rules will see a significant aerodynamic reduction—approximately 20% less downforce compared to the 2025 cars. Additionally, the 2026 tyres will be narrower, with the front tyres decreasing by 25 millimeters and the rears by 30 millimeters.
Hamilton Leads Day One, Norris Sets Benchmark
On the first day of testing, Hamilton was the faster of the two Ferrari drivers, clocking a lap time of 1:15.93. He edged out Leclerc by 0.13 seconds, but both were significantly behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who set the benchmark time of 1:15.21 in the MCL60 mule car.
Leclerc Dominates Day Two, Hamilton Struggles
The second day saw a major shift in performance, with Leclerc improving his time by over a second. The Monegasque driver completed 74 laps and posted the fastest time of the test, a 1:14.971. His lap was nearly a full second quicker than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who recorded a best time of 1:15.815 after completing the same number of laps.
In contrast, Hamilton struggled to match his pace from the previous day. The seven-time world champion completed a mammoth 152 laps but could only manage a best time of 1:16.759—almost two seconds slower than Leclerc and 0.8 seconds down on his own Tuesday time.
Norris, who did not participate in the second day, remained the quickest McLaren driver overall, as Piastri’s best time was six-tenths slower than his.
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)
The significant improvement by Leclerc, coupled with Hamilton’s struggles, suggests the Monegasque driver found a better rhythm with the new tyre compounds. Meanwhile, McLaren continues to show strong form, with Norris setting the fastest time across both days.
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