As a part of an effort to make F1 vehicles smaller and lighter, Pirelli agreed to cut back the entrance tyre width by 25mm and the rear tyre width by 30mm. The tyres themselves may also turn into smaller in diameter, going from the present 720mm diameter to 705-710mm, though F1 will nonetheless be utilizing 18-inch wheels.
Regardless of the diminished tyre sizes the FIA is just not projecting Pirelli’s new tyres to be considerably down on grip in comparison with their present product.
“We’re not anticipating important distinction from the adjustments being accomplished on the tyres with respect to basic mechanical grip,” the FIA’s single-seater technical director Jan Monchaux mentioned. “It may be a slight discount as a result of the tyres are smaller, nevertheless it’s not a departure which is a supply of actual concern for us.”
There had been discuss of lowering tyre and wheel sizes even additional, with a change to 16-inch rims being on the desk. However the FIA and Pirelli agreed that it will not be clever so as to add one other variable to what’s already a fancy set of technical adjustments.
“We do not need the tyres to be a supply of concern early 2026, and with these new energy models, which within the traction section may have an enormous quantity of energy, we merely have been a little bit bit nervous at going a lot smaller,” Monchaux defined.
“The discount on the tyres is actually lower than we might have all hoped, however we did not need too large a departure from the recognized product, which at the moment we’ve and are pretty pleased with.”
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Pirelli’s motorsport director Mario Isola mentioned staying with 18-inch tyres would give the Italian tyre producer a greater likelihood to deal with tyre overheating, a standard criticism of its present F1 rubber.
Mario Isola, Racing Supervisor, Pirelli Motorsport, within the group principals Press Convention
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“We proposed the narrower 18-inch tyre to avoid wasting weight. In our opinion it is a good compromise between saving weight and a tyre that has traits which are required in 2026,” Isola mentioned.
“With the 16-inch tyres, we have been fearful in regards to the load capability of the tyre, in addition to the likelihood to extend the overheating rather a lot. We did some simulations, and we made a proposal to remain on 18-inches tyres, which was accepted.”
The burden saved from the smaller tyres ought to quantity to 4 to 5 kilogrammes, which is a part of the FIA’s bold goal to cut back the automotive weight by 30kg.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis mentioned the governing physique would grant Pirelli “elevated alternatives” to check for 2026. The largest hurdle for Pirelli, nonetheless, is the absence of a consultant mule automotive.
Pirelli expects to have bodily prototypes prepared for testing by September this 12 months, however it should solely be capable to attempt these out on present period vehicles in low-downforce trim, which derive their aerodynamic masses in a really totally different approach than the 2026 vehicles and do not characteristic energetic aerodynamics.
“We may have mule vehicles, however they are going to be greater, heavier, with none energetic aerodynamics and with downforce that’s coming from a special idea,” Isola defined.
“Testing our slender tyres on these vehicles is giving us the likelihood to gather information, however then we have to crosscheck the info with the simulations to grasp if we’re getting in the best course. We can not rely simply on the monitor testing.
F1 2026 FIA automotive renders
Photograph by: FIA
“We had an analogous scenario in 2016, as a result of the 2017 the vehicles have been 5 – 6 seconds per lap faster than earlier 12 months.
“We’re going to check with a downforce configuration that we consider is simulating what will occur in 2026. The true downside is that you’ve much more drag. We do not have a 2026 automotive, so we do not have a automotive ready to do that X mode and Z mode.”
Having entry information from all 10 groups ought to assist Pirelli keep in the best ballpark, but when it must make additional changes it may nonetheless play with the vary of compounds obtainable additional down the road.
For subsequent 12 months Pirelli is engaged on a sixth, softer compound to ought to be extra suited to decrease load avenue circuits, and it might maintain that wider vary into 2026.
“We are able to appropriate or effective tune with a special vary of compounds,” Isola added. “So we are able to go softer, for instance, if the extent of load is decrease in comparison with now. It is all the time a steadiness that we’ve to seek out after we know the traits of the brand new automotive.”
With 2026’s closing laws not but signed off and Pirelli’s tyre constructions needing to be finalised by 1 September 2025, that may give the Italian model round 12 months to finish its improvement. Whereas it is an aggressive timeline, Isola is assured that Pirelli can get the venture over the road.
“It is not one thing new, actually,” he concluded. “It was the identical factor with the opposite large rule adjustments we had; we do our greatest to make the very best tyre for the long run as we did previously.
Pirelli and Ferrari group members
Photograph by: Pirelli
“There are some limitations, we settle for that, however we work in the absolute best solution to provide tyres with the required traits. If they aren’t good the primary 12 months, we are going to work to regulate them or fine-tune them for the next 12 months, as we all the time do.
“However that is the identical additionally when the laws aren’t altering, as a result of in any case the groups are growing the vehicles, and we’ve to comply with with our tyres.”