Charles Leclerc and Guanyu Zhou will be stepping into the SF-25 ‘mule car’ today, Friday, September 26, for a crucial Pirelli test at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. This session serves as the ‘final assessment’ of the new tires to be introduced in 2026. Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton will not be participating in the test due to his dog Roscoe’s severe illness. Romain Grosjean will also be returning to the driver’s seat of a Formula 1 car.
Lewis Hamilton will be absent from the Mugello test; he has withdrawn due to the poor health of his dog, Roscoe. His place will be taken by Zhou, who unexpectedly gains valuable experience ahead of 2026. Ferrari will be driving a ‘mule car’ that simulates the behavior of the future generation of F1 cars, including less downforce and active aerodynamics. Pirelli is primarily testing narrower front and rear tires, the data from which will determine the final tire choice for next season.
What stands out about the Pirelli tire test in Mugello is the return of Romain Grosjean to a Formula 1 car. The French-Swiss driver will once again be behind the wheel of a Haas, this time the VF-23. Grosjean drove for the American team from 2016 to 2020, until his F1 career ended after a severe crash in the opening round of the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020. At an impact of 67G, he shot through the guardrail, after which his car caught fire. He barely managed to get himself to safety, but did suffer burns to his hands. The fact that he is now, almost five years later, back in action for Haas, makes this test extra special.
