Hamilton completes two-day tyre test at Fiorano

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have wrapped up two productive days of wet‑weather tyre development at Fiorano, completing nearly 900 kilometres as part of Pirelli’s ongoing programme to refine the next generation of rain compounds for Formula 1.

The seven‑time world champion covered 297 laps across Thursday and Friday—884 kilometres in total—on the Maranello team’s private test track, one of the few European circuits equipped with a full irrigation system capable of recreating consistent wet conditions.

Despite warm spring weather, with ambient temperatures reaching 22°C on both days, the artificially soaked surface allowed Pirelli to gather controlled, repeatable data on its 2027-specification rain tyres.

Focus on expanding the full wet operating window

Hamilton’s running began with prototype Full Wet tyres featuring a revised tread pattern. This design had already undergone initial evaluation the previous week at Suzuka with Red Bull and Racing Bulls, and Pirelli’s engineers are now pushing to broaden the operating range of the Cinturato Blue so that it remains effective even in lighter rainfall—an area where current wet tyres have historically struggled.

Through the afternoon and into the evening, Ferrari switched to a new variant of the Cinturato Intermediate. This allowed Pirelli to study the crossover thresholds between the two compounds, a key factor in race strategy and safety when conditions evolve rapidly.

On Friday alone, Hamilton completed 155 laps (461 kilometres), setting a best time of 1’00’’740 as he cycled through long runs, short evaluations, and repeated comparison sequences.

A broader testing campaign continues

Pirelli’s development push does not stop in Italy. Next week, Mercedes and McLaren will take over testing duties during a closed‑door session at the Nürburgring on April 14–15. The German circuit, last used for a Grand Prix in 2020, offers a balanced layout that stresses tyres both laterally and longitudinally—ideal for validating future slick compounds under a wide range of loads.

With no Formula 1 races scheduled in April, these sessions provide teams and Pirelli with a valuable window to accelerate tyre development without interfering with the championship calendar. For Hamilton, the Fiorano test also offered additional mileage in Ferrari’s SF‑26, adding to his growing familiarity with the car as the season progresses.