McLaren returns to the Nürburgring for two days of Pirelli testing

This test at the Nürburgring was not originally planned in this format. It replaced a session initially scheduled in Saudi Arabia, which was cancelled after the Jeddah Grand Prix was removed from the April calendar. McLaren shared the track with Mercedes Benz Over the two days, the German team was also affected by this postponement. McLaren is fielding the MCL40 for the 2026 season in a specification already used in races, as Pirelli's testing regulations prohibit any modifications to the Grand Prix configuration. Pirelli has fully defined the testing program, selecting potential tire compounds for future seasons.

In accordance with the official testing protocol, Pirelli shares all collected data with the eleven teams on the grid, within the limit of the 40 days of testing it has each year. Oscar piastri opened the hostilities on Tuesday, completing 66 laps, or 336 kilometers, with a best time of 1:35.096. A technical problem in the afternoon reduced his track time, although the team was able to rectify the situation to allow him to return to the track at the end of the day. Lando Norris then took over on Wednesday, recording a more prolific day with 108 laps on the clock — 550 kilometers — and a best time of 1:33.640.

In comparison, the best lap achieved in qualifying by a Formula 1 The most recent update to the circuit dates back to the last time F1 raced on the track: at the Eifel Grand Prix in 2020. Valtteri Bottas secured pole position with a time of 1:25.269. The fastest lap in the race was set by Max Verstappen with a time of 1:28.139. The Australian highlights the value of these days despite their regulatory constraints: "We can't make any changes during these tests, but it's always useful to be able to check that all the systems are working correctly and to better understand the car, especially with the new regulations."

A return to a circuit steeped in history for McLaren

Beyond the technical aspects, these two days mark McLaren's return to a circuit they haven't raced on since 2020. The Woking-based team has five victories there in its history, the most recent being that of Lewis Hamilton in 2011. For Norris, returning to the Nürburgring in modern Formula 1 had something special about it: "I've driven here in practically every category, so it's great to be able to do it with today's Formula 1 cars." Piastri, for his part, appreciates the uniqueness of the design: "The Nürburgring is an old-school circuit, with its kerbs and run-off areas, which makes achieving a good lap all the more rewarding."

For both drivers, these days also represent a welcome opportunity to maintain their rhythm after a difficult start to the season. Norris makes it clear: “After lacking track time at the start of the season, it felt good to be back behind the wheel. Sessions like this, even if they aren't for testing our own improvements, offer learning opportunities that will be useful for progressing this season.” Next stop: Miami, from May 1st to 3rd, where McLaren hopes to begin its return to the top.

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