McLaren and Mercedes will run Pirelli slick-tyre tests at the Nürburgring on April 14-15, the first Formula 1 running on the Grand Prix circuit since the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix. McLaren is expected to field Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Mercedes is reported to use Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to evaluate new compounds.
The Nürburgring sessions form part of Pirelli’s expanded testing program after the company moved planned Bahrain work to Europe because of the war in the Middle East. Before the German outing, Ferrari will conduct a separate wet-tyre test for Pirelli at Fiorano on April 9-10. These events keep development on schedule despite the reshuffle from the original calendar.
Running will take place on the 5.148 km Grand Prix circuit, not the Nordschleife. The two-day window falls in Formula 1’s spring break, giving teams a chance to log mileage for Pirelli while race commitments pause. The work supports tyre development for future seasons, with the testing program set to continue into 2027.
Pirelli’s plan has been active across several venues. Recent wet-tyre runs at Suzuka involved Red Bull and Racing Bulls, providing data on treaded products. The Nürburgring will focus on slicks, offering a different track layout and surface to broaden the compound evaluation. The mix of dry and wet sessions across diverse circuits feeds a larger dataset for construction and rubber choices.
A return to the Nürburgring restores modern F1 machinery to an iconic German track that last featured on the calendar in 2020. That event filled a gap during the pandemic-adjusted season. This month’s test is a controlled tyre program rather than a race weekend, but it places current cars from McLaren and Mercedes back on the familiar Grand Prix loop.
Norris and Piastri have front-line experience with McLaren’s latest package, which helps Pirelli judge compound behavior over longer runs and short stints. Russell brings similar knowledge for Mercedes, while Antonelli adds mileage as part of the manufacturer’s testing roster. The goal is consistent feedback on grip, wear, and warm-up across a range of laps and fuel loads.
By relocating work to Europe and stacking wet and dry sessions, Pirelli keeps development moving while teams navigate a compressed early-season schedule. Data from Fiorano, Suzuka, and the Nürburgring will shape the next phases of compound selection and construction updates. The company will use the spring block of tests to refine options before later test days return to other circuits during the year.