Pirelli’s second test session for 2025 commenced today at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, located near the Spanish town of Granollers. Following their participation in a two-day session at Paul Ricard, McLaren F1 Racing once again collaborated with Pirelli on tyre development for 2026, this time joined by Scuderia Ferrari HP.
Three race drivers were in action today. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc shared driving duties in a modified SF-24, while Lando Norris took the wheel of the specially adapted MCL60, designed to support testing with Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier. After focusing on intermediate and extreme wet tyres during last week’s session, the Pirelli engineers shifted their attention to slick tyre development this time around. The testing program evaluated various combinations of tyre construction and compounds, with a focus on the harder range of tyres, from the C1 to the C3, which are well-suited to the demanding conditions of the Spanish circuit.
A total of 332 laps were completed: Hamilton logged 87 laps (best time of 1’15”930), Leclerc completed 86 laps (1’16”060), and Norris topped the lap count with 159 laps (1’15”215).
Testing at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit will continue tomorrow, with Oscar Piastri taking over driving duties for McLaren. Leclerc and Hamilton will return to the Ferrari, with Leclerc driving in the morning and Hamilton in the afternoon.
