The work began yesterday on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona for Pirelli’s 2026 preparations has concluded with the help of Ferrari and McLaren, who additionally ran as we speak with an SF-24 single-seater and an MCL60, the McLaren automobile from the 2023 Method 1 championship, which hit the monitor in a low-downforce aerodynamic configuration. This setup aimed to duplicate, no less than partially, the grip circumstances anticipated in 2026, when Method One will introduce a brand new regulatory framework that may make vehicles, no less than initially, slower than the present ones, particularly in corners.
The identical three drivers from yesterday continued working as we speak with Pirelli engineers on the event of the 2026 tires. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared a Ferrari SF-24, whereas Oscar Piastri was on the wheel of a McLaren MCL60. Each vehicles have been modified to accommodate the prototype tires designed in accordance with the brand new technical rules coming into power subsequent 12 months, with the entrance tires being 25 millimeters narrower and the rear tires 30 millimeters narrower than the present ones.
A complete of 300 laps have been accomplished as we speak: 74 by the Monegasque driver, 74 by his British teammate, and 152 by the Australian. Listed here are the quickest lap instances recorded, although they maintain little actual significance given the completely different testing applications carried out for Pirelli by the 2 groups: 1.14.971 for Charles Leclerc, 1.16.759 for Lewis Hamilton, and 1.15.815 for Oscar Piastri.
Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola said that the session had been very helpful, notably for evaluating completely different tire constructions for the subsequent season and experimenting with some compounds from the more durable finish of the vary. The Italian supervisor famous that the Barcelona circuit was recognized to be one of the demanding for tires as a result of power exerted and degradation, making the info gathered over the 2 intense days extremely necessary for the longer term improvement of that tire era. He additionally talked about that it was a really busy begin to the 12 months, with 4 take a look at classes happening even earlier than the season started, and expressed his gratitude to all of the groups working with Pirelli, acknowledging how busy they have been at that second.
After final week’s checks at Paul Ricard and this one on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Pirelli’s crew of engineers will head additional south subsequent week for a two-day take a look at on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Andalusia on February 13 and 14. Alpine will take part on each days, whereas McLaren and Mercedes will every have at some point of testing. The ultimate pre-season take a look at will happen on the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain on March 2 and three, with Alpine and Williams on monitor each days. This similar venue will then host the one three-day take a look at the place all groups will run their 2025 vehicles earlier than the opening spherical, the Australian Grand Prix.
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