Pirelli and the F1 are working in unison on the tires of the future. The new concept of “agile” single-seater that FIA has disciplined through yet another technical revolution that will begin in the season 2026, has one of the pillars of the new regulatory body in the reduction of the overall weight of the cars. A very complex challenge, as the new architecture of power unit linked to electricity storage, requires larger dimensions. As a result, the weight increases. The smaller measurements will help reduce the overall mass.
The tires will also be smaller in 2026. The weight saved thanks to future tires is expected to amount to 4-5 kilograms, contributing to the ambitious goal of FIA to reduce the weight of the car by at least 30 kg. Tread of smaller dimensions which will favor the reduction of drag, although it will determine the level of grip lower resulting from the contact surface between the tire and the asphalt. In particular, the front tires will be narrower by 2.5 cm, while the rear ones by 3. There will also be a slight reduction in diameter which will go from the current 72 cm to 70.5/71 in 2026.
There was speculation of further reducing the size of the tires and wheels, with the move to 16-inch rims. Nonetheless, the technical division of the single-seaters of the FIA together with Pirelli, they agreed that it would not be appropriate to add another variable into what is already an equation with many unknowns that weighs on stable designers. Continuity with 18-inch tires, in fact, offers the advantage of exploiting the analyzes already conducted on the phenomenon of overheating by the Italian supplier.
F1, Pirelli will have to test the 2026 tires based on hypothetical equations
The indication came directly from Pirelli, all downstream of the simulations carried out with the 16-inch compounds. Tests during which significant overheating of the tread was highlighted. The Italian manufacturer explained the fact through the director of Pirelli Motorsport, Mario Island: there is an urgent need to understand the impact on the tires in the transition from the “X” mode, with low resistance, towards the “Z” mode, used in the segments of the track where the flaps front and rear will provide the maximum possible vertical load.
The first test towards the tyres 2026 will be carried out in September this year. At this point a question arises spontaneously, keeping in mind all the data discussed so far: What value will the analysis have if it is not possible to simulate with extreme accuracy the performance profile of the 2026 single-seaters without active aerodynamics? Isola has provided the key to understanding, through which we can get an idea of how the analyzes will be conducted and, consequently, understand what the various problems related to the controls will be that the Italian tire dealer will necessarily have to face.
“We will test with a downforce configuration that we believe simulates what will happen in 2026. The real issue is increased drag. We don’t have a 2026 car, so the ability to run X and Z modes doesn’t exist“. We certainly don’t want to put our finger on the wound, but the boss’s clarification Pirelli makes us understand how International Federation does not provide adequate tools for the tire dealer to test the product. If the FIA had we decided to build a basic single-seater regulated by the next regulation, a sort of forklift so to speak, the job would undoubtedly be simpler.
Hypothesis that would provide a Pirelli the possibility of fulfilling the task in a more factual manner. Perhaps this is also why the legislative body relies on the Italian house, knowing that it is always ready to accept any challenge. The tire manufacturer of Long P is not new to the thankless task of having to test the quality of its product on single-seaters that are not suitable for the purpose. It also happened between seasons 2021 and the 2022with the transition to 18-inch tyres, necessarily tested in the previous months on single-seaters with completely different aerodynamics.
At the time, the development of the 18-inch tires took over 10,000 hours testing indoor, more than 5000 hours of simulation and more than 70 solutions developed virtually. A huge effort was made to then create the 30 specifications that were tested by the pilots of F1. We are talking about 4267 laps completed on the track for a total that well exceeds 20,000 kilometers travelled. To understand the extent of distance traveled in these testthe meters put together are equal to approximately half the circumference of the globe, through the use of 392 sets, or 1568 tyres.
With numbers in hand, it is understandable that the challenge he will have to face again Pirelli, to provide an adequate, safe product that complies with the expectations required for the season F1 2026, is very difficult and complicated. Precisely for this simple reason we tried not to vary the size of the circles, as mentioned. To achieve the same success as the recent past, the historic Milanese manufacturer will have access to the myriad of data that all the teams have in their possession during the track tests. Teams that will have to offer their best in the new product development process.
Author: Alessandro Arcari – @berrageiz
Images: Scuderia Ferrari – Pirelli F1
