While F1 enjoys the summer break, three drivers have worked at the Hungaroring testing the compounds of the future.
While most drivers and teams are enjoying the summer break, three teams have kept activity on track to collaborate with Pirelli on the development of tires for the 2027 season. The Hungaroring has been the chosen venue for these tests, in which Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) and Jak Crawford (Aston Martin) took part.
The Argentine Alpine driver was the fastest on Tuesday, with a best time of 1m20.371s in 128 laps. Bortoleto, for his part, completed the highest number of laps with 141, although his best time was 1m20.813s. Crawford, Aston Martin's third driver, accumulated 136 laps and set a time of 1m24.598s, a difference that reflects the current performance of each team's cars.
The test program focused on the development of compounds for 2027. The drivers completed short and long runs on different variants of the C3, C4 and C5 tires, allowing Pirelli engineers to evaluate the performance and degradation of the most promising options. The short runs simulated qualifying conditions, while the long runs reproduced race pace.
Aston Martin also took advantage of its presence in Hungary to carry out a filming day with the new Honda engine that the British team will debut at Zandvoort after the summer break. Crawford was in charge of driving the AMR26 with the new power unit specification, on a day that combined Pirelli's development work with the team's needs.
The Pirelli test is a fundamental part of the Formula 1 development calendar. The Italian manufacturer uses these sessions to collect data and fine tune the compounds that will be used in the 2027 season, ensuring that the tires adapt to the characteristics of the cars of the new regulatory era.
Colapinto and Bortoleto continued with the test program on Wednesday, focusing on work similar to the previous day. Both drivers accumulated valuable kilometers at the Hungaroring, which will allow them to provide key information to their respective teams for the second half of the season.
Crawford's participation in the Pirelli test was also an opportunity for Aston Martin to evaluate the performance of the new Honda engine in a controlled environment. The British team has had a complicated start to the season and the power unit upgrades are fundamental for its recovery in the second half of the championship.
Tire development is a continuous process in Formula 1, and tests like the one in Hungary are essential to ensure that the compounds offer the necessary performance and safety on track. Pirelli hopes that the data collected in these sessions will allow them to fine tune the 2027 tires and offer an even more exciting spectacle.
The test times reflect the current hierarchy of the grid: Alpine, with Colapinto, confirmed its position as the midfield leader by setting the best time; Audi, with Bortoleto, demonstrated its ability to accumulate kilometers and data, prioritizing reliability and learning over pure speed; and finally Aston Martin, with Crawford, remains hampered by its car's deficit, evidenced by the gap to its rivals.
In conclusion, each team used the test according to its needs: performance, development or adaptation.
