Mercedes, McLaren complete productive Pirelli tyre test at Nürburgring

Mercedes, McLaren, and Alpine utilized the current F1 break to run their 2026 cars in separate private tests, with the primary focus for the two British teams being a Pirelli tyre development programme at the Nürburgring. All four race drivers participated, gathering crucial data on future tyre compounds while also reacquainting themselves with the historic German circuit.

Why it matters:

These private tests are a rare and valuable opportunity for teams to collect data outside of the tightly restricted official calendar. For Pirelli, feedback from current cars and drivers is essential for developing the tyres that will be used under the new 2026 technical regulations. For the teams, it provides extra track time for drivers and a chance to verify car systems, even if they cannot test new upgrades.

The details:

• Nürburgring Test Focus: The two-day test with Mercedes and McLaren was dedicated to Pirelli's development of the 2026 tyre range, primarily focusing on variants of the C3 (medium) compound, with some running on softer tyres as well.
• Driver Laps and Feedback:
  • Day 1: George Russell (Mercedes) completed 127 laps, while Oscar Piastri (McLaren) was limited to 65 due to a technical issue.
  • Day 2: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Lando Norris (McLaren) ran 109 and 108 laps respectively. Both Norris and Piastri emphasized the value of the track time for providing detailed feedback to Pirelli and understanding the current car better.
• Shared Data: As is standard for Pirelli tests, all data collected is shared with every team on the grid, making it a collaborative effort for future development.
• Alpine's Filming Day: Separately, Alpine conducted its second 'filming day' of the season at Silverstone with reserve driver Franco Colapinto. These promotional events are limited to 200km on demonstration tyres but offer young drivers valuable experience in a current F1 car.

What's next:

Tyre testing continues to be a focus during the break. A previous wet-weather test was held at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit with Lewis Hamilton, and the next Pirelli session is scheduled for mid-May at Magny-Cours, which will also focus on wet-weather compounds. For the teams and drivers involved at the Nürburgring, attention now shifts to preparing for the next championship round at the Miami Grand Prix.