Pirelli has finished two key days of tyre testing at the Hungaroring, working with four Formula 1 teams and five drivers to gather data for the 2026 season.
The sessions took place on the Tuesday and Wednesday following the Hungarian Grand Prix. It was designed to help finalise the tyre construction and evaluate compound behaviour under real conditions.
The new tyres keep the 18-inch size but are narrower. This week’s versions were 25mm slimmer at the front and 30mm narrower at the rear, in line with the technical changes coming in 2026.
Tuesday – Norris, Lawson and Aron log big mileage
Day one featured McLaren, Racing Bulls and Alpine, all using 2023-spec mule cars. Lando Norris, Liam Lawson and Paul Aron were on driving duty.
The day began with short runs using the C3, C4 and C5 compound prototypes. After lunch, each team moved into longer stints to test tyre behaviour over race-style distances.
Track temperatures peaked at 56°C, providing a tough test for tyre heat resistance. All three drivers completed full programmes.
Lap totals and best times:
- Paul Aron – 1:18.789 (159 laps)
- Lando Norris – 1:19.272 (144 laps)
- Liam Lawson – 1:19.510 (143 laps)
Pirelli collected data on tyre warm-up, grip levels, and how the narrower shape affects balance and degradation.
Wednesday – Leclerc Runs Full Day, Alpine Shifts to 2023 Car After Colapinto Crash
On the second day, Ferrari joined the test with Charles Leclerc. Alpine returned with Franco Colapinto, who had already driven in FP1 during the Grand Prix weekend.
The plan followed Tuesday’s structure. Drivers ran short stints in the morning, followed by long-run work in the afternoon. A version of the C2 compound was added to the test list.
Leclerc completed his full programme, logging 144 laps with a best time of 1:19.407.
Colapinto’s day ended early. He went off track during the morning session, damaging the car and preventing further running. He had managed 25 laps with a top time of 1:20.270 before the incident.
Pirelli confirmed the crash was not caused by the tyre compounds or construction.
Although Alpine’s participation in the official Pirelli test ended with the crash, the team continued running later in the day using a 2023-spec A523. That car was not part of the tyre development programme. Pierre Gasly took over driving duties in what was a separate, private test session unrelated to the 2026 compounds.
What Pirelli learned and what’s next
Pirelli’s Mario Isola said the test was a valuable step toward finalising the 2026 range.
“We’ve made solid progress over these two days. This track is demanding on tyres and offers a mix of cornering energy and surface stress that helps expose key behaviours.”
The tyre construction has now been signed off and will be submitted for FIA approval on 1 September.
The compound range is still being worked on. More tests are planned at:
- Monza
- Mugello
- Mexico City
The final compound lineup C1 to C6 will be locked in by December.