F1: Vesti tests Pirelli's 2027 wet tyres at Magny-Cours

Pirelli has continued developing its wet-weather tyres for Formula 1 in 2027 at Magny-Cours. Mercedes third driver Frederik Vesti completed 125 laps, or 551 km, on several prototype intermediates. His best time was 1 min 30.284 s.

A test focused on the warm-up phase

The day's programme centred on intermediate tyres. Frederik Vesti ran several prototypes with different compounds and constructions. The stated aim was to identify those that deliver the best performance during the warm-up phase, meaning the moment when the tyre has to reach its working range quickly after leaving the pits.

In F1 this phase is decisive on a damp track: an intermediate that heats up quickly lets a driver push earlier in a stint while the track gradually dries.

A damp track, maintained artificially

Conditions were adapted to the programme:

• in the morning, the track was damp after overnight rain;
• in the afternoon, the level of moisture was maintained by the circuit's artificial watering system;
• temperatures stayed moderate, with asphalt at 22 °C at most and air at 20 °C.

Watering lets Pirelli control conditions and repeat comparisons without depending on the weather, an advantage for development work that needs similar conditions from one lap to the next.

125 laps, 551 km and a reference time

Frederik Vesti therefore strung together 125 laps, or 551 km of running, with a best time of 1 min 30.284 s. That time should be read with caution: on a damp track maintained by watering, with prototype tyres, it says nothing about the real performance of future compounds or the form of the cars.

Next step: slicks and the crossover window

The programme was not over. The following day, slick tyres are due to be tested to define the crossover window more precisely, meaning the point where the track is dry enough for the slick to be quicker than the intermediate. If rain returns overnight or during the day, work can go back to wet tyres.

Key takeaways

• The test took place at Magny-Cours, according to reports published on 14 October 2026.
• The tyres tested are prototypes: no 2027 production compound is confirmed at this stage.
• The sources consulted give no official Pirelli statement on the results and no detail of the compounds tried.

For fans, these tests are a reminder that preparing the 2027 season is also about tyres, well before the cars are unveiled.