Drivers are urging for a return to the Nurburgring following a unique F1 test.

      "I truly enjoyed driving this morning."

      Two leading Formula 1 drivers have advocated for the Nurburgring to be reintroduced to the racing calendar, as the rare activity on the legendary German track resumed this week. Current F1 drivers George Russell and Oscar Piastri participated in Pirelli’s 2027 tire development program on Tuesday, with the opening two days experiencing wet-dry conditions. The test, which will proceed on Wednesday with Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli taking over, is strictly focused on tire work, meaning teams are unable to test their own innovations.

      "You know, Formula 1 is quite challenging because we don’t get much practice time, but that’s just the way it is," Russell remarked. "We would love to do numerous starts, but that’s not permitted."

      Piastri concurred that the limited running is still beneficial. "It’s not the same as a race weekend or an actual race, but it’s certainly better than nothing," he stated. Beyond the technical aspects, both drivers seized the chance to express their enthusiasm for the Nurburgring’s well-known F1 layout and the lack of German races on the contemporary calendar.

      "I genuinely enjoyed driving this morning. I absolutely love the Nurburgring. I even took a few laps around the Nordschleife. I really enjoy it. It’s a true traditional, old-school circuit," Russell expressed. "I would definitely love to return here for a race someday; unfortunately, we don’t currently have any races in Germany, but securing one back on the calendar with Mercedes would be great."

      Piastri shared a similar view, praising the track’s distinctive character. "It’s a fantastic track. I haven't raced here in a long time—the last time was in 2019. It’s an old-school circuit with bumps and unique curbs, particularly at the corners' exits," he noted. "There’s hardly any margin for error; it’s all grass and gravel. Some parts are quite demanding, and in a modern Formula 1 car, the track feels pretty compact compared to the circuits we usually race on. But it’s always wonderful to return to such historic tracks."

      When directly asked about a potential return to Formula 1, the Australian was receptive. "Absolutely. I’m open to it. It’s not my top favorite track, but it's very intriguing and distinctive. There are numerous elevation changes, and, of course, the history of this place is quite significant. Racers enjoy old-school tracks. The curbs and runoff areas typical of these circuits always deliver greater driving satisfaction when executed well. It would be wonderful, but we’ll see."