Following the conclusion of wet-weather testing at Fiorano, Pirelli returned to the track at the Nurburgring for a crucial development session. On the first of a two-day schedule at the historic German circuit, the Italian tire manufacturer utilized support from both McLaren and Mercedes to refine future rubber compounds.
Both teams deployed their primary race drivers, with Oscar Piastri and George Russell behind the wheel. The morning session, however, was initially dictated by the weather; overnight rain left the track damp, forcing the drivers to begin their programs on Intermediate tires to clear the surface.
As the sun emerged during the morning hours, the asphalt gradually dried, finally allowing Piastri and Russell to switch to slick tires and dive into the heart of the development program.
Focus on the C3 compound
The primary objective of the day was centered on the C3 compound. Both drivers worked extensively on testing various structural iterations of the tire in short runs consisting of eight laps each. Once the most promising solutions were identified, George Russell utilized the final part of the afternoon to conduct long-distance simulations. This was vital for Pirelli to validate how these new constructions behave over representative race distances compared to the initial short-run bursts.
It was a significantly more complicated day for McLaren. A technical fault on the number 81 MCL40 forced Oscar Piastri to remain sidelined in the garage from the lunch break until nearly the very end of the day’s running in Germany. This limited the Australian’s ability to gather data during the prime afternoon window.
The testing on the C3 compound proved particularly insightful due to the unique thermal conditions at the circuit. Once the sun dried the track, track temperatures reached 37°C in direct sunlight, despite the ambient air temperature never climbing above a brisk 15°C. This temperature delta provided Pirelli with excellent data on tire surface versus carcass heating.
Mileage and lap times
In terms of the stopwatches, Oscar Piastri set a personal best of 1’35″096. Russell proved faster, clocking a 1’33″899. Due to the McLaren reliability issues, Piastri completed 65 laps (totaling 335 kilometers), while Russell enjoyed a productive day with 127 laps (totaling 654 kilometers).
Pirelli’s development work will continue tomorrow at the Nurburgring with the same two teams. However, the driver lineup will change: Lando Norris will take over the MCL40, while the W17 will be driven by the current F1 World Championship leader, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The data gathered during these sessions is critical for the evolution of the 2026 tire range, especially as cars continue to find more downforce through early-season development. Pirelli’s focus on the C3—the most versatile tire in the range—suggests they are looking for a more robust “workhorse” tire that can handle the extreme torque loads of the modern hybrid power units without overheating during the “super-clipping” phases seen in recent races.
The technical failure for McLaren at the Nurburgring is a frustrating setback, particularly given the limited testing opportunities available during the season. However, for Mercedes, the 127 laps completed by Russell provide a mountain of data that will surely benefit the team’s understanding of tire degradation—knowledge that could be vital as they defend their championship lead.
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