Leclerc fastest on final day of Pirelli tyre test at Barcelona

©Pirelli

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Pirelli wrapped up on Wednesday the second and final day of its latest Formula 1 tyre development test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, once again working in conjunction with Ferrari and McLaren.

The session, aimed at developing the Italian manufacturer’s 2026-specification tyres, saw Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sharing driving duties in a Ferrari SF-24, while Oscar Piastri handled the McLaren MCL60 solo.

Both cars were modified to accommodate the prototype tyres, which will be narrower than the current ones by 25 millimetres at the front and 30 at the rear, in accordance with next year’s new technical regulations.

A Productive Day for Pirelli’s Tyre Development

The three drivers completed a combined total of 300 laps throughout the day. Leclerc and Hamilton each logged 74 laps in the Ferrari, while Piastri covered an impressive 152 laps in the McLaren.

While lap times were recorded – 1'14''971 for Leclerc, 1'16''759 for Hamilton, and 1'15''815 for Piastri – these figures hold little significance given the differing work programs being carried out for Pirelli.

©Pirelli

Reflecting on the test, Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola highlighted the valuable insights gained from the two days of running.

“It was a very useful session, particularly when it came to providing a comparison between the various different constructions for next season, as well as experimenting with some compounds from the harder end of the range,” commented Isola.

“The Barcelona circuit is known as one of the most demanding for the tyres in terms of the energy exerted and degradation, therefore the information we have gathered over these two busy days will be very important for the future development of this generation of tyres.

©Pirelli

“It’s a really demanding start to the year with four test sessions even before the season begins and I want to thank all the teams that are working with us, because we know how busy they are at the moment.”

Next Stop: Jerez de la Frontera

Following this week’s test in Barcelona, Pirelli’s development program continues next week in Andalusia at Jerez de la Frontera, where testing is scheduled for February 13 and 14.

Alpine will participate on both days, while McLaren and Mercedes will take part for one day each.

The final pre-season test is set for Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit on March 2 and 3, with Alpine and Williams running both days, just a few days after F1’s official three-day test at the same venue.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.