In recent days, Pirelli tests took place at the Mugello circuit to try out the 2026 tyres, with Ferrari taking centre stage. Alongside the Maranello team, Haas also ran yesterday with a modified VF-24. For the Scuderia, Charles Leclerc and Guanyu Zhou took to the track.
The big absentee today was Lewis Hamilton, who had to miss the session due to the serious health condition of his dog Roscoe. The Chinese driver stepped in for him, also carrying out some TPC testing with the 2023 car. Arthur Leclerc was also in action, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi, who was busy in the WEC for the 6 Hours of Fuji.
The programme carried out
At Mugello, Ferrari tested the harder compounds from Pirelli’s 2026 range. The next testing sessions for the Italian tyre manufacturer will take place after the Mexican Grand Prix and then in Abu Dhabi at the end of the season. Unfortunately, the rain that hit Tuscany complicated the on-track activities.
Given the wet conditions, both intermediate and full wet tyres were tested. Leclerc completed 25 laps in the morning, setting the best time of 1’34”914. His teammate, who also ran on extreme wet tyres, completed 75 laps with a time of 1’22”012. Zhou also had the opportunity to run on slicks once the track conditions improved.
The words of Mario Isola
Pirelli’s Director, Isola, commented on the just-concluded tests: “Unfortunately, the weather conditions did not help us,” as stated in the press release. “It’s a shame, because Mugello is not only a fascinating circuit but also a very demanding one for the tyres, and it would have helped us to run consistently in order to define the harder compounds.”
“Now we will have to complete the analysis work on the limited data collected in these two days and compare them with those from previous sessions to draw the necessary conclusions. As for the softer compounds, we still have the two test days after the Mexican Grand Prix to define the versions to be homologated.”
“If we really want to find a positive aspect, we can say that at least we were able to test the rain tyres on a proper wet track, gathering useful data and indications for medium- and long-term development. Finally, I would like to thank Haas and Scuderia Ferrari for the collaboration provided during these two days of testing,” concluded Mario Isola.
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