Pirelli conducted a 2026 tyre test at the Italian Mugello Circuit with Ferrari and Haas. Although the test programme was originally planned to test the harder slick tyres, rain on both days of the test severely hampered the running. However, this did provide some opportunities to run both the intermediate and full wet tyres. Haas helped on the first day of the test, with their car being driven by Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Ferrari assisted on both days with Charles Leclerc in the car alongside Zhou Guanyu, who was filling in for Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton pulled out of the Pirelli tyre test following the hospitalization of his beloved dog. Roscoe, a 12-year-old bulldog, caught pneumonia. “He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped,” the seven-time World Champion explained in his Instagram post. “They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma.” This is not Roscoe’s first battle with pneumonia, as he had overcome the illness earlier this year.
After participating in the first day of the Pirelli tyre test, Haas remained at the Mugello Circuit for a Testing of Previous Cars session. This saw Romain Grosjean get behind the wheel of an F1 car since a fiery crash in Bahrain brought his F1 career to a premature end in 2020. This time, he was driving the updated VF-23 used by Haas in 2023. Grosjean was, up until the end of last year, racing in the IndyCar series full-time. James Hinchcliffe, the Canadian IndyCar driver turned commentator, also had a chance to pilot the VF-23 around the circuit.
Max Verstappen won his first GT3 at the Nordschleife in the Nurburgring Endurance Series. Two weeks ago, the Dutchman secured a licence to race GT3 around the iconic German circuit. Driving a Ferrari 296 owned by Emil Frey Racing, Verstappen had a strong start, leading into the first corner after starting in P3. He built a gap out front, leading by more than a minute. He handed the car over to teammate Chris Lulham, who crossed the finish line nearly 25 seconds ahead at the end of the 4-hour race.
The Miami Grand Prix appointed a new president. At 28 years old, Katharina Nowak, who has been the event’s Vice President of Business Operations, is the youngest president of an F1 race. She is replacing Tyler Epp, who has been the president of the event since its debut in 2022. Epp has left the organization to take on “an important role in the motorsports industry”.
It can be challenging for even the most avid fans to keep up with the fast-paced world of Formula One. The Weekly F1 Recap is a series published each Monday that breaks down the action, both on and off the circuit, into bit-sized pieces. It's perfect for casual and experienced fans alike.
