Pirelli Faces Challenges in Developing 2026 F1 Tires

According to Motorsport.com, Pirelli is developing a new generation of tires for the 2026 Formula 1 revolution — maintaining 18-inch wheels but with smaller diameter and narrower profile to reduce weight.

Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport’s head, expressed satisfaction with the testing progress conducted with Aston Martin and Sauber at Silverstone — while acknowledging several challenges.

“I’m satisfied with the development so far, but of course there are a lot of question marks. First of all, that’s related to the car. We are using mule cars with different aero package and downforce level compared to what we’ll have next year,” Isola explained.

The 2026 tire development process requires various information sources:

• Mule car testing
• F1 teams’ simulations
• Pirelli’s virtual model
• Tire thermomechanical model
• Material testing department

Testing of 2026 tires will continue at Hungaroring in early August, followed by additional sessions at Monza, Mugello, and Mexico City — aiming to deliver a balanced product for the 2026 season.