Pirelli’s lap times from their 2026 F1 tire testing at the Hungaroring have been made public. The tire manufacturer is conducting ongoing development work focused on the 2026 season.
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, several teams and drivers stayed in Hungary for two days of testing sessions. On Tuesday, Alpine, McLaren, and Red Bull participated, while Alpine teamed up with Ferrari on Wednesday for the second day.
On Tuesday, Racing Point drivers Rand Norris and Liam Lawson posted slower lap times. The lap times from Tuesday were: Paul Aron (Alpine) clocked 1:18.789 with 159 laps, Rand Norris (McLaren) recorded 1:18.272 with 144 laps, and Liam Lawson (Red Bull) completed 1:19.510 with 143 laps.
Paul Aron was Alpine’s fastest on Tuesday, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Guthrie set to share driving duties on Wednesday. However, Alpine’s day was disrupted by a heavy crash involving Colapinto at turn 11, which caused significant car damage. Fortunately, Colapinto was unharmed and Alpine confirmed he was safe after further checks at the circuit.
The primary goal of the test at the Hungaroring was to evaluate the performance of the C3, C4, and C5 tire compounds for 2026. Pirelli has yet to release the lap times and mileage details from Wednesday’s session.
After this testing phase, Formula 1 teams will observe a two-week summer break before the 2025 season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 31 at Zandvoort.
Fan Take: This tire test is crucial as it gives fans an early glimpse of how teams are preparing for the 2026 season, potentially shaping strategies and car setups. The ongoing development highlights the sport’s continuous innovation, which keeps racing exciting and competitive year after year.
