Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have wrapped up their two-day stint on the Pirelli tyre check in Barcelona, the place the newly-formed Ferrari duo had been testing the 2026 tyres on the Spanish Grand Prix venue.
On Tuesday, Lewis Hamilton took to the monitor within the morning earlier than handing over to Charles Leclerc within the afternoon. They had been joined by McLaren’s Lando Norris, and all Ferrari drivers continued their testing on Wednesday. The Maranello staff is utilizing an “unprecedented” setup for this occasion, deviating from the same old configuration for the historically high-downforce circuit, identified for its lengthy sequence of medium-to-high-speed corners.
On the request of Pirelli, Ferrari modified their automotive setup by stripping away downforce. This adjustment was made to simulate the following technology of F1 automobiles, reflecting the upcoming technical modifications within the sport. In consequence, Hamilton’s preliminary expertise with the SF-24 was not like any typical testing session and is probably not totally consultant of what the automotive will probably be like in race circumstances. Pirelli dictates the testing program and doesn’t disclose to groups which particular prototype tyres they’re utilizing in the course of the check.
The British driver’s low season testing program started with a session at Fiorano on January 22 earlier than shifting on to Montmelo for a TPC run within the 2023 automotive. He suffered a crash throughout testing final week however appeared to have a a lot smoother session on Tuesday morning.
On the primary day of the check, Motorsport Italy reported that Hamilton was barely quicker than Leclerc. The monitor was fairly busy, with Alpine working a separate TPC program with Jack Doohan. There have been no points for both Ferrari driver, who managed a mixed whole of 173 laps—87 for Hamilton and 86 for Leclerc. Hamilton set a quickest time of 1:15.93, whereas Leclerc’s greatest was 1:16.06. Whereas particulars on the monitor circumstances, tyre compounds, and run plans weren’t made out there, these outcomes may bode nicely for Hamilton’s efficiency shifting ahead.
McLaren’s Norris accomplished a formidable 159 laps within the title-winning MCL60 and set a time of 1:15.21, surpassing each Ferrari drivers, though once more, the total context of his run stays unclear.
There was additionally some intrigue surrounding Ferrari’s choice to deliver two totally different automobiles to the Barcelona check. This choice adopted Hamilton’s accident, which disrupted their run plan the earlier week. Regardless of this, Hamilton’s efficiency at Fiorano, the place he was quicker than Leclerc—although rain restricted the importance of the comparability—suggests there may be nonetheless a lot to sit up for within the upcoming pre-season assessments. Even when Lewis Hamilton continues to be quicker within the official Bahrain check, the actual check will come when qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix rolls round subsequent month. Hamilton had a difficult 2024 season on Saturdays, shedding to his teammate George Russell in 19 out of 24 classes, however the focus will probably be on him as he goals to enhance his qualifying kind this yr.
The second and ultimate day of assessments deliberate by Pirelli on the Catalunya circuit concluded on Wednesday in Montmelo. On monitor had been Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton alternating behind the wheel of the SF-24, and McLaren‘s MCL60 pushed by Oscar Piastri. Each automobiles had been modified to make use of the prototypes of the tyres set to be launched underneath the brand new technical laws for subsequent yr, which function a 25mm narrower entrance and 30mm narrower rear.
A complete of 300 laps had been accomplished at this time: 74 every for the Monegasque and the Brit, and 152 for Oscar Piastri. The quickest lap occasions (which it’s price stating once more should not totally indicative as a result of particular nature of the testing applications) noticed the Monegasque driver on the prime (1’14”971), adopted by Oscar Piastri (1’15”815) and Lewis Hamilton (1’16”759). “It was a really helpful session, significantly in permitting us to check totally different variations of the tire constructions forward of subsequent season, in addition to testing a number of the tougher compounds within the vary,” commented Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director.
The Pirelli check program will proceed subsequent week (Thursday and Friday) on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit, the place Alpine (for 2 days), McLaren, and Mercedes (for at some point every) will take to the monitor. The ultimate pre-season check is scheduled for March 2 and three in Sakhir (Bahrain), the place each Alpine and Williams will probably be on monitor for the one three days of collective testing with the 2025 automobiles earlier than the Australian Grand Prix.
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