What was the McLaren test at Paul Ricard about?

McLaren set up its base camp in the Var this week for two days of driving with a very specific goal.

Published 31/01/2025 à 12:22

Gonzalo Forbes

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What was the McLaren test at Paul Ricard about?

© Morgan Mathurin

Residents of the Castellet circuit have been able to hear engine noise this week despite the winter period and the calm that reigns over the world of F1. And for good reason. It is McLaren who was in action at Paul-Ricard in recent days for a first test in 2025.

Unlike Ferrari who organized two TPCs for Charles Leclerc et Lewis Hamilton, first at Fiorano and then at Barcelona, ​​the Woking team did not race in the same setting. Indeed, it was the first test of the year to work on the next generation of Pirelli rain tires expected in 2026.

Piastri and Norris at the helm

The action took place on January 29 and 30, days during which Oscar piastri et Lando Norris sat behind the wheel of the MCL60, used during the 2023 season. Wednesday's day, divided into two parts, was entirely driven by the Australian.

In the morning, Piastri was unfortunately unable to complete the planned programme. due to the extremely cold conditions, with some parts of the track surface reaching only -2°C " explains Pirelli. A delay that the Aussie was able to catch up in the afternoon to reach the number of laps initially on the menu for the day. In total, the 4th in the last championship made 120 passes for a best time of 1'07" 008, on a version of Paul-Ricard 3,463 kilometers long.

The next day, Lando Norris took over for 123 laps, with a best time of 1'07"956, working on wet and intermediate conditions. Pirelli thus collected data over 840 kilometers and in wet conditions, between rain and artificial watering.

« The first test session of 2025 proved very useful, Mario Isola summarizes, head of Pirelli's motorsport activities. When testing wet tyres it is not easy to constantly reproduce the same track conditions to obtain reliable data, but over the course of these two days we were able to acquire a lot of information that will be vital when it comes to defining the new intermediate and maxi wet tyres. »

As a reminder, the 2026 range retains the same diameter as today, namely 18 inches, but with a reduction in the width of the front tires by 25 mm and the rear tires by 30 mm. New tests are planned by Pirelli: on February 4 and 5 in Barcelona with McLaren and Ferrari, then on February 12 and 13 in Jerez where Alpine will work both days, while McLaren and Mercedes will each do one day.

ALSO READ > "There is still room for improvement": Piastri knows what he needs to improve in 2025

Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

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