Wednesday\u2019s fast-paced F1 news includes Oscar Piastri suffering a setback during Pirelli\u2019s tyre test at the Nurburgring with McLaren and Mercedes.<\/p>\n
With Fernando Alonso testing a WEC-style Aston Martin Valkyrie during F1\u2019s extended April break, here\u2019s today\u2019s roundup\u2026<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri suffers technical issue in Nurburgring tyre test<\/p>\n
Oscar Piastri saw his running limited by a McLaren technical problem on the first day of a Pirelli tyre test at the Nurburgring on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
McLaren and Mercedes are carrying out two days of running at the Nurburgring this week, marking the first time current F1 machinery has taken to the German circuit since the one-off Eifel Grand Prix in 2020.<\/p>\n
Piastri\u2019s disrupted running meant he completed just 65 laps compared to the 127 carried out by George Russell.<\/p>\n
Read more: Oscar Piastri\u2019s Nurburgring test cut short as McLaren hit by test issue<\/a><\/p>\n Fernando Alonso tests WEC-style Aston Martin Valkyrie at Paul Ricard<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso has carried out a test with a WEC-style Aston Martin Valkyrie at Paul Ricard.<\/p>\n Alonso drove a Valkyrie LM \u2013 described by Aston Martin as the \u2018ultimate incarnation\u2019 of the car used in the WEC and IMSA \u2013 at the former French Grand Prix circuit.<\/p>\n The Valkyrie was designed by Adrian Newey, the current Aston Martin team principal, during his stint with Red Bull.<\/p>\n Read more: Watch: Fernando Alonso tests Newey-designed Aston Martin Valkyrie at Paul Ricard<\/a><\/p>\n Fred Vasseur agrees with Lewis Hamilton over key Ferrari SF-26 weakness<\/p>\n Fred Vasseur has acknowledged that the Ferrari SF-26 has a \u201cdeficit of performance\u201d in terms of straight-line speed.<\/p>\n It comes just weeks after Lewis Hamilton highlighted Ferrari\u2019s straight-line performance as a weakness in its battle with Mercedes.<\/p>\n Ferrari has finished on the podium at each of the three races held so far in F1 2026.<\/p>\n Read more: Ferrari admits clear SF-26 \u2018deficit\u2019 after Lewis Hamilton spots \u2018huge\u2019 Mercedes \u2018step\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Jos Verstappen: Ralf Schumacher \u2018talks a lot of bulls**t\u2019<\/p>\n Jos Verstappen has dismissed Ralf Schumacher\u2019s claim that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are missing the presence of Helmut Marko in F1 2026.<\/p>\n Marko parted ways with Red Bull GmbH at the end of last year having played an instrumental role in the Austrian brand\u2019s F1 activities for more than two decades.<\/p>\n Four-time world champion Verstappen revealed last month that he remains in contact with Marko.<\/p>\n