Pirelli release new Lewis Hamilton v Charles Leclerc data as tyre test end…read more
Charles Leclerc clocked the fastest time during Pirelli’s recent tyre test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, leading the Ferrari drivers. The two-day test, held on behalf of Pirelli, featured Ferrari and McLaren drivers as they worked on the development of the 2026 F1 tyre compounds. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also participated, adding to the testing effort. The test was conducted with modified versions of the teams’ 2024 cars, designed to simulate the downforce levels expected for the 2026 F1 cars. These future cars are expected to generate 20% less downforce compared to the 2025 models. The 2026 tyres are also narrower, with front tyres reduced by 25 millimetres and rear tyres by 30 millimetres.
On the first day of testing, Lewis Hamilton outpaced his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, recording a time of 1:15.93, which was 0.13 seconds quicker than Leclerc’s time. Both Ferrari drivers, however, were more than seven-tenths of a second slower than McLaren’s Lando Norris, who set a blistering 1:15.21 in the MCL60 mule car. However, on the second and final day of testing, Leclerc took control of the timing sheets, setting the fastest lap of the test. Leclerc completed 74 laps and posted a best time of 1:14.971, nearly one second faster than Piastri’s best time. Hamilton, on the other hand, finished third, with a time of 1:16.759, which was nearly 1.8 seconds off Leclerc’s pace.
Hamilton’s time on Wednesday was slower than his previous day’s performance by about 0.8 seconds, while Leclerc made significant improvements to his time, shaving over a second off his Tuesday performance. On the first day, Norris was the quickest driver overall, and his time of 1:15.21 was around six-tenths faster than Piastri’s best on Wednesday. The time discrepancies, however, are not necessarily an indicator of overall performance, as each driver was working through different testing programs for Pirelli. Test sessions like these differ greatly from competitive Grand Prix weekends, where factors such as race pace and strategy play a bigger role.
Pirelli’s Mario Isola acknowledged the value of the two-day session, particularly in assessing the various tyre constructions for the upcoming season. He also noted the importance of experimenting with harder compounds to gather comprehensive data. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, known for its challenging nature and high demands on tyres, provided a solid test environment for this data collection. Isola emphasized that the insights gathered from these tests are crucial for the continued development of the 2026 tyre generation.
With this Barcelona test concluded, Pirelli will head to Jerez for another round of testing scheduled for mid-February. Alpine will conduct testing on the 13th and 14th of February, followed by McLaren and Mercedes, who will each have a day of testing. After the official pre-season testing in Bahrain, Alpine and Williams will carry out additional Pirelli tyre tests on the 2nd and 3rd of March. Both teams will run tests on both days, continuing the crucial process of fine-tuning the 2026 F1 tyres ahead of the new season.
These tests are essential in ensuring that Pirelli’s tyres will be ready for the significant regulatory changes expected in 2026, and the data collected will help shape the final specifications of the tyres for the upcoming season.
