Norris and Russell join Verstappen on the Nürburgring Nordschleife for Pirelli tyre test

Lando Norris and George Russell took a detour from the usual F1 calendar to tackle the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife during a two‑day Pirelli dry‑tyre test. The session, held on April 14‑15, marked the first Formula 1‑related activity on the 20.8‑km "Green Hell" since the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

• Historic venue – The Nordschleife hasn’t hosted an F1 event since Niki Lauda’s 1976 crash, so any modern F1 presence is a rare glimpse of the sport’s roots.
• Tyre development – Pirelli gains real‑world data on tyre performance over a mixed‑surface, high‑speed circuit, informing future dry‑compound work.
• Team exposure – McLaren and Mercedes showcase their partnership with the tyre supplier, while giving drivers a unique challenge that can sharpen car‑control skills.

The details:

• Test format – Both teams ran a fleet of Pirelli dry tyres on the modern Grand Prix layout, then each driver completed a few laps on the Nordschleife.
• Driver impressions – Russell said, "I really love the Nürburgring… it’s a traditional, old‑school circuit. I’d love to race there again, especially with a German Grand Prix on the calendar."
• Verstappen precedent – Max Verstappen has been a regular at the "Green Hell" since a GT3 debut in September 2025, most recently winning the NLS2 race in March (later disqualified for a technical breach).
• Technical angle – The long straights, elevation changes and tight corners provide extreme load cases for tyre compounds, helping Pirelli map wear patterns and temperature windows.

What's next:

• Upcoming endurance – Verstappen is eyeing the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May; the test gave him extra seat‑time on the same surface.
• Calendar speculation – Russell hinted that a German Grand Prix would be welcome, potentially nudging the FIA toward a future return.
• Further testing – Pirelli plans additional dry‑tyre runs at other historic circuits later in the season to broaden its data set.