Mick Schumacher’s test day for Pirelli at Magny-Cours was abandoned after 29 laps: the conditions during the rain test were just too poor.
Mick Schumacher had another opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula One car this week. The German was testing tires for manufacturer Pirelli at Magny-Cours in France on Tuesday, but was stopped by poor conditions on the track.
Although the day was actually intended to evaluate Pirelli’s rain tires, the rain was even too intense for the test drives, so that Schumacher was only able to complete a total of 29 laps in the current W15 from Mercedes before his test day was declared over.
Schumacher set a fastest lap of 1:39.172 minutes, but this was of no real value, because regular driver George Russell was almost eleven seconds faster the following day, setting a best time of 1:28.428 minutes.
The Brit continued testing on Wednesday, also in rainy and cool conditions. He was able to finish Schumacher’s program and successfully complete the test drives with 86 laps under his belt.
Between 1991 and 2008, Formula 1 held the French Grand Prix in Magny-Cours, although the circuit was not particularly popular due to its limited infrastructure and unfavorable location. Later, the French Grand Prix moved to the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, but it is no longer on the calendar either.
Tire manufacturer Pirelli’s test drives will continue next week on October 8 and 9 at Mugello in Italy, where Red Bull and Ferrari will work on tires for 2025.
Meanwhile, testing for the new tire generation from 2026 is also progressing. After Aston Martin tested in Barcelona in September, McLaren will soon complete further test drives.