Mercedes and Racing Bulls took part in the first of two test days scheduled in Catalunya to trial the 2026 slick tyres. George Russell and Isack Hadjar, each driving their respective mule cars, gathered valuable data for compound development. Tomorrow it will be Kimi Antonelli’s turn with the Silver Arrows, and Yuki Tsunoda will drive a Red Bull.
A new Pirelli tyre testing session for 2026 began today. With the cooperation of Mercedes and Racing Bulls, Pirelli’s engineers focused on comparing different constructions and compounds for the slick tyres. On a track like Barcelona, which is very demanding on tyres, various hard compound solutions from the range were tested.
Two drivers were on track today, both coming off good results in last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and both driving mule cars based on their teams’ previous season’s cars: George Russell in the Mercedes W15 and Isack Hadjar in the VCAR01. By the end of the day, the British driver had completed 136 laps, with a best time of 1’16”920, while the young Frenchman logged 146 laps, his fastest in 1’18”334. Together, the two drivers covered a distance equivalent to over four Grands Prix.
Testing at this circuit will continue tomorrow: Mercedes will run again, this time with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while the Faenza-based team will make way for Red Bull, which will field Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda.
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