Two days of development testing for Pirelli’s 2026 tires were carried out at the Hungaroring on August 5 and 6, with support from McLaren and Racing Bulls on day one and Alpine and Scuderia Ferrari the following day.
Temperatures were warm across both days, with ambient temperatures between 21°C and 31°C and track temperatures between 29°C and 56°C on day one; and air temperatures of between 21°C and 29°C and track temperatures between 31°C and 53°C on day two.
On the second day, Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, and Charles Leclerc, driving for Scuderia Ferrari, completed short-distance comparisons of different prototype compounds, from C3 to C5, to check their level of overall performance. Long runs were also trialed to check tire performance over longer distances, and a version of the C2 was also tested over a long run.
The two teams both took to the track with mule cars adapted to fit the tires with the 2026 measurements – still with an 18in diameter but 25mm narrower at the front and 30mm narrower at the rear – and using cars based on the chassis that they are using this season.
The program was only partially completed as Colapinto went off the track in the first part of the morning session, and car damage meant that he was unable to return to the track. Prior to coming off the track, Alpine had completed 25 laps, with a fastest time of 1:20:270. Leclerc was able to complete a full program, ending the day with a total of 144 laps and a fastest time of 1:19:407.
“These have been two useful days for making progress with the development of our compounds for next season, given that we are now entering the home straight,” said Mario Isola, head of Pirelli Motorsport.
“The Hungaroring is a demanding track due to its many slow curves and the amount of energy that goes into the tires on a lap that is rather short. This makes it a challenging place to test tires, in particular for the compounds that will be central to the 2026 range – which will go from C1 to C6 like this year.
“We have collected a lot of data, although it was a pity that we lost some of our potential mileage today when Colapinto went off the track, even though this was not in any way linked to the tires. As for construction, we have verified our final solutions as far as homologation is concerned, ahead of the regulations coming on September 1.
“By contrast we now have three further test sessions – in Monza, Mugello and Mexico City – to conclude the development of the compounds, whose homologation is due on December 15.”
In related news, the Red Bull Driftbrothers recently chose Westlake Sport RS tires from ZC Rubber for their two 1,000hp BMW M4 drift cars. Read the full story here
