Mercedes has completed a two-day test for Pirelli at Magny-Cours – reserve driver Frederik Vesti tested new intermediate variants, amongst other things
Formula 1 is taking a short break in the World Championship between the races in Singapore and Austin. However, there was still some racing action this week. Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti took to the track for two days during a Pirelli tyre test at Magny-Cours.
On Wednesday, the focus was initially on the intermediate tyres for the upcoming 2027 Formula 1 season. Vesti completed a total of 125 laps on the wet track in France, the fastest of which was 1:30.284 minutes.
According to Pirelli, the Dane tested “a range of intermediate tyre variants with different compounds and constructions to identify the prototypes that offer the best warm-up performance”.
Whilst the track was wet in the morning due to overnight rain, the circuit’s artificial sprinkler system was also used in the afternoon to keep the track damp.
On Thursday, the start of the test day was initially delayed because visibility was too poor due to fog at the circuit. Once proceedings could get under way, the focus was on working with slicks, whilst still keeping wet conditions in mind.
Pirelli stated: “As part of the various assessments carried out, the programme enabled the engineers to determine the crossover point to the wet tyres that had been tested during yesterday’s test sessions.”
Vesti tested “various tyre solutions for dry weather conditions with compounds of different hardness levels”, the statement said. In total, he completed a further 138 laps on Thursday, his fastest being 1:15.766 minutes.
Formula 1 kicks off its next triple-header in a week’s time in Austin, Mexico and Brazil. A further triple-header in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi is then planned for the season finale, provided the races there can go ahead as scheduled.