The work started yesterday at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona for Pirelli’s 2026 preparations has concluded with the support of Ferrari and McLaren, who also ran today with an SF-24 single-seater and an MCL60, the McLaren car from the 2023 Formula 1 championship, which hit the track in a low-downforce aerodynamic configuration. This setup aimed to replicate, at least in part, the grip conditions expected in 2026, when Formula One will introduce a new regulatory framework that will make cars, at least initially, slower than the current ones, especially in corners.
The same three drivers from yesterday continued working today with Pirelli engineers on the development of the 2026 tires. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared a Ferrari SF-24, while Oscar Piastri was at the wheel of a McLaren MCL60. Both cars were modified to accommodate the prototype tires designed according to the new technical regulations coming into force next year, with the front tires being 25 millimeters narrower and the rear tires 30 millimeters narrower than the current ones.
A total of 300 laps were completed today: 74 by the Monegasque driver, 74 by his British teammate, and 152 by the Australian. Here are the fastest lap times recorded, though they hold little real significance given the different testing programs carried out for Pirelli by the two teams: 1.14.971 for Charles Leclerc, 1.16.759 for Lewis Hamilton, and 1.15.815 for Oscar Piastri.
Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola stated that the session had been very useful, particularly for comparing different tire constructions for the next season and experimenting with some compounds from the harder end of the range. The Italian manager noted that the Barcelona circuit was known to be one of the most demanding for tires due to the energy exerted and degradation, making the data gathered over the two intense days highly important for the future development of that tire generation. He also mentioned that it was a very busy start to the year, with four test sessions taking place even before the season began, and expressed his gratitude to all the teams working with Pirelli, acknowledging how busy they were at that moment.
After last week’s tests at Paul Ricard and this one at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Pirelli’s team of engineers will head further south next week for a two-day test at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Andalusia on February 13 and 14. Alpine will participate on both days, while McLaren and Mercedes will each have one day of testing. The final pre-season test will take place at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain on March 2 and 3, with Alpine and Williams on track both days. This same venue will then host the only three-day test where all teams will run their 2025 cars before the opening round, the Australian Grand Prix.
— see video above —
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