Ferrari Completes 623 Km at Imola in Major 2027 Pirelli Tire Test

Ferrari went straight from Madrid to Imola for an intensive Pirelli test. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc shared the SF-26, completing 623 kilometers while evaluating three tire compounds for 2027.

The Scuderia used its SF-26 during the opening day, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sharing driving duties. The pair completed a combined 623 kilometers, working through different versions of the C3, C4 and C5 compounds.

With Pirelli expected to make its final compound selection toward the end of the year, every kilometer from these private sessions provides additional data for the tire supplier.

Hamilton Starts Ferrari’s Imola Program

Hamilton was first behind the wheel, taking over the SF-26 shortly after 9:30 a.m. The seven-time world champion worked through Pirelli’s three softest dry compounds during a series of controlled test runs.

The program included five-lap runs with different specifications before Ferrari moved toward longer stints designed to provide a broader understanding of tire behavior.

Lewis Hamilton drives Ferrari’s SF-26 at Imola during Pirelli’s 2027 tire development test.

Hamilton completed 64 laps and covered approximately 314 kilometers. His best time was a 1:19.485, although outright lap times were not the primary objective of the session.

Instead, Ferrari and Pirelli were focused on gathering consistent information across the different tire specifications.

Leclerc Sets the Fastest Time of the Day

Ferrari switched drivers in the afternoon, with Charles Leclerc taking over the SF-26 and following the same general test program.

The Monegasque completed 63 laps, just one fewer than Hamilton. He covered around 309 kilometers and posted the quickest lap of the day with a 1:18.832.

Charles Leclerc takes over the Ferrari SF-26 at Imola and sets the quickest time during the Pirelli test.

As with Hamilton’s running, the headline lap time does not tell the whole story. Pirelli’s testing programs use different run plans and tire specifications, meaning comparisons based purely on the stopwatch are not particularly meaningful.

The real objective was to understand how each compound behaves across different conditions and stint lengths.

Ferrari Also Runs Its SF-25 With Young Drivers

The activity at Imola was not limited to the current Ferrari Formula 1 car.

The team also carried out a Testing of Previous Cars program using the SF-25, allowing younger drivers Rafael Câmara and Arthur Leclerc to accumulate additional mileage.

Câmara drove the previous-generation Ferrari during the morning session before handing the car over to Arthur Leclerc in the afternoon.

Arthur Leclerc and Rafael Câmara also take part in Ferrari’s Imola testing program with the SF-25.

The TPC running gave Ferrari another opportunity to evaluate drivers within its wider development structure while the main team worked on Pirelli’s 2027 tire program with the SF-26.

That created a particularly busy day for Ferrari at Imola, with both its current and previous-generation cars in action.

Imola Offers Ferrari More Than Tire Data

The location of the test also made the session particularly relevant for Ferrari.

Imola is expected to play an important role on the Formula 1 calendar in the future, although its exact place on the 2026 schedule remains subject to confirmation in the supplied information.

For Ferrari, having the SF-26 running at the circuit therefore provides useful knowledge beyond the Pirelli program itself.

The team can gather additional information on the car’s behavior at a track that may become important later in the season.

Giovinazzi and Racing Bulls Take Over Next

Ferrari’s tire development work at Imola will continue with Antonio Giovinazzi taking over the SF-26 for the next session.

Racing Bulls will also join Pirelli at the circuit, with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad scheduled to share the team’s VCARB03.

That will give Pirelli another opportunity to gather data from a different car concept and development philosophy.

Ferrari Is Already Looking Toward 2027

The Ferrari Imola Pirelli test shows how quickly Formula 1 teams have to move from one competitive weekend to the next development task. Ferrari went from the Madrid Grand Prix directly into tire testing, with Hamilton and Leclerc completing more than 600 kilometers in a single day.

The team’s 623-kilometer total is valuable not because of the lap-time leaderboard, but because of the volume of data generated across C3, C4 and C5 specifications.

For Ferrari and Pirelli, that information will contribute to the development and eventual selection of the 2027 tire range. Meanwhile, the additional SF-25 running gives Ferrari’s young drivers more track experience as the Scuderia prepares for the next stage of its Formula 1 program.