Piastri sidelined by technical issue in Nürburgring tyre test

Oscar Piastri’s Nürburgring tyre test was interrupted by a technical fault, limiting him to 65 laps. George Russell completed 127 laps and topped the day with a 1:33.899 on the C3 tyre. The session still offered Piastri valuable mileage and a first look at the 2027 tyre prototypes.

Why it matters:

McLaren’s 2026 package still needs lap data to gauge ergonomics, component reliability and set‑up balance, especially on a circuit that never hosts a Grand Prix. With testing caps, each usable lap is a rare chance to refine the car before the next race weekend.

The details:

• Technical fault stopped Piastri after 65 laps; Russell ran 127 laps, best 1:33.899 vs Piastri’s 1:35.096.
• Both drivers tested early‑stage 2027 tyre concepts; Piastri noted the compounds felt “different” and will see more versions later.
• Russell reminded the test is tyre‑only; no start runs or set‑up changes are allowed under the April pause.
• McLaren will field Lando Norris on day two; Mercedes will send championship‑leader Kimi Antonelli, extending data collection for the 2026‑2027 tyre development window.

What’s next:

Day two sees McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli take the wheel, extending tyre mileage and feeding data into simulators ahead of the next sprint events.