Formula 1 action returned to the Nürburgring circuit for a dedicated Pirelli tyre testing session, with McLaren and Mercedes taking center stage. However, the opening day did not unfold smoothly for everyone, as the Woking-based team was significantly slowed by a technical issue that heavily limited its on-track programme. Following overnight rain, drivers initially ran on intermediate tyres, delaying the start of the planned schedule with slick compounds.
McLaren held back, Mercedes runs without issues
Oscar Piastri completed just 65 laps, forced to cut his running short due to an unspecified problem that compromised a large portion of the afternoon session. In contrast, George Russell enjoyed a much more productive day, completing an impressive 127 laps and successfully covering the full testing programme without major setbacks.
Pirelli explained: “(Both drivers) completed several eight-lap runs in the early phase of the programme to test different construction variants of the C3 compound,” highlighting the importance of the initial comparison phase in evaluating tyre behavior and performance.
Lap times, development work and expectations for day two
In terms of lap times, George Russell set the benchmark with a 1:33.899, while Oscar Piastri recorded a best time of 1:35.096. These figures are well off historical references, such as the 2020 pole position lap, but remain consistent with the experimental nature of the session and the focus on data gathering rather than outright performance.
“The most promising solutions were then tested later in the afternoon by the British driver over longer runs to verify their behavior over more representative mileage,” Pirelli added, underlining the importance of long-run data in tyre development.
The work will continue into the second day, with Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli set to take over driving duties and complete the development programme for the new tyre compounds, as Formula 1 teams and Pirelli continue to refine performance ahead of the upcoming races.
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