- Russell calls for a German Grand Prix return after driving the Nurburgring.
- Pirelli’s secretive 2027 tyre test brought current F1 cars back to Germany.
- Piastri, after a tricky day, still had plenty to say about the old-school circuit.
George Russell and Oscar Piastri both expressed support for a German Grand Prix return after completing a Pirelli tyre development test at the Nurburgring on April 14.
Mercedes driver Russell was particularly vocal. He told Sky Sports F1 that he would love to race at the venue one day. Piastri, whose day was cut short by a technical issue with his McLaren, offered a more measured but still positive view.
The test brought current-generation Formula 1 machinery back to the Nürburgring for the first time since the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, held during the COVID-affected season.
Germany has not hosted a round of the World Championship since then.
The testing context: Why the Nurburgring?
The 2026 season is on a five-week break following the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Pirelli used the unplanned gap to schedule a programme of European tyre development tests.
McLaren and Mercedes were selected to run at the Nürburgring GP-Strecke. The circuit holds FIA Grade 1 status, the highest classification, making it fully eligible to host a Formula 1 event.
The test was originally meant to take place in Saudi Arabia. When that race was called off, Pirelli relocated the session to Germany.
Structured secrecy: What Russell and Piastri were testing
Pirelli tyre tests follow a strict format. The participating teams do not know which compounds they are evaluating. Pirelli dictates the run plans entirely.
Teams cannot fit updated car components. Setup options are restricted, usually to a low-downforce configuration.
Power units and gearboxes used during the test are kept separate from each driver’s race-season allocation.
This structure is deliberate. It allows Pirelli to collect objective data without outside variables affecting the results.
According to RacingNews365, both drivers opened the day with eight-lap runs, evaluating a range of construction variants of the C3 compound. Pirelli described the early data as promising.
Russell extended the work into longer stints and eventually completed 127 laps, with a best time of 1:33.899.
Piastri’s day ended early after a technical problem with his MCL40 surfaced around the lunch break. He finished with 65 laps and a best of 1:35.096.
When asked about the tyres by Sky Sports F1, Russell kept his answer deliberately brief.
“Well, these are the tyres. Just a development for 2027,” he said. “They’re pretty similar to what we have today, and Pirelli would probably not appreciate if I said anything too much in detail.”
Piastri was slightly more expansive when asked if he had noticed differences.
“I think yes. Some of them have been a bit different,” he told Sky Sports F1. “Still got plenty of things to test in terms of the tyre changes. And I’m sure there’ll be different tests and different versions throughout the year.”
Russell on the Nurburgring: “I’d love to be back racing here”
Beyond the tyre data, the circuit itself seemed to stay with Russell long after he climbed out of the car.
Asked by Sky Sports F1 whether he had enjoyed the morning and whether he would welcome a race there, he did not hesitate.
“I’ve really enjoyed driving this morning. I really love the Nürburgring,” he said. “I’ve done a few laps at the Nordschleife as well. Really, really love that. It truly is a traditional old school circuit. Yeah, you know, I’d love to be back racing here one day.”
George Russell then connected his wish directly to Mercedes’ German identity.
“Of course, we have no race in Germany at the moment,” he said. “And with Mercedes, it would probably be nicer to have one back on the calendar.”
Mercedes is a German manufacturer with deep roots in the sport’s history. The absence of a home race is not a trivial matter for a team that has spent much of the modern era dominating the championship.
Russell also addressed questions about Mercedes’ race start difficulties. He was clear that the tyre test format left no room to work on that problem.
“We’re here because it’s a Pirelli test and a tyre test. We’re not allowed to do any starts. And that’s the same for every team whenever they do tyre testing,” Russell added.
Piastri’s measured take: “It would be cool, but we’ll see”
Piastri was more restrained in his enthusiasm but still found genuine things to appreciate about the venue.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the Australian champion gave a balanced view despite his shortened day.
“Sure, I don’t mind it,” he said. “You know, it’s not my favourite track ever, but it’s a really cool place in terms of how unique it is. You know, there’s a lot of elevation change. Obviously, the history of this place is very cool as well.”
He then explained what draws drivers to circuits like the Nürburgring.
“It’s a very old school track, which I think, as drivers, we always enjoy that part of things,” he said. “The kind of old school nature of the curbs and the runoffs is always more rewarding when you get things right. So, it would be cool, but we’ll see.”
Many modern Formula 1 circuits feature wide tarmac runoff areas and forgiving surfaces, which reduce the penalty for driver error.
Circuits like the Nurburgring, where gravel and tighter barriers still exist, demand more precision. When a lap comes together on such a track, as Piastri mentioned, drivers feel it.
The broader picture: Can Germany return to the calendar?
The question of Germany’s place on the Formula 1 calendar does not have a simple answer.
A return would involve commercial negotiations, hosting fees, infrastructure investment and political agreement between race organisers and local government.
Sebastian Vettel, Germany’s most recent world champion, previously acknowledged the scale of the problem.
As quoted by Red Bull’s own media, he noted that the cost of staging a Grand Prix in Germany had become a significant barrier.
Pirelli’s continued use of the Nurburgring as a test venue speaks to the circuit’s technical standing.
Pirelli’s current contract as Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier runs until the end of 2027, with an option for 2028 already under consideration.
The sport remains a valuable development platform for technology that eventually reaches road car tyres.
But technical credibility alone does not put a race on the calendar. The gap between a venue that works for a tyre test and one that can sustain a Grand Prix weekend is wide.
What the comments from Russell and Piastri do confirm is that the mood in the paddock is warm.
Russell’s case is personal, shaped by his connection to Mercedes and his clear affection for the circuit. Piastri’s is quieter but rooted in what demanding, old-school tracks ask of the drivers who tackle them.
Whether that goodwill translates into something more permanent, only the negotiating tables will decide.
