Barcelona already has a taste of 2026, with Ferrari and McLaren engaged in a Pirelli test session. The goal was to evaluate the latest prototype tires for the 2026 season, which are lighter and smaller in size.
Ferrari took to the track with the SF-24, giving Lewis Hamilton the opportunity to familiarize himself with Maranello’s latest single-seater. The adoption of smaller tires required several modifications to the car, from the suspension—adjusted to accommodate the new tires—to aerodynamic changes. FIA regulations allow teams to make modifications to their cars to simulate the estimated aerodynamic load levels for 2026.
The tests will help Pirelli understand how the mule cars behave, as teams do not yet physically have their 2026 cars. However, Pirelli will not rely entirely on the data collected, as next-generation single-seaters will undergo radical technical changes that will affect their performance.
2026 New Tires
Images from the test clearly highlight the differences compared to the current tires. The size reduction stems from the need to lighten the carcass and reduce aerodynamic drag.
While maintaining the 18-inch rims, both front and rear tires will have altered dimensions. The overall diameter will shrink from the current 720 mm to a range between 705 and 710 mm. The width will also decrease: the front tire will be 25 mm narrower, while the rear will lose 30 mm.
Comparison between SF-24 and SF-24 Mule Car – Source: f1ingenerale
Simulating the loads that the 2026 tires will have to withstand using modified current-generation cars will be a challenge for Pirelli. For this reason, teams have introduced specific aerodynamic solutions to approximate the expected downforce levels.
Aerodynamics
From the photos seen in recent days, the low-downforce configuration immediately stands out—an unusual setup for a technical circuit like Barcelona, which is known for requiring high downforce levels.
The front wing resembles the configuration seen in Las Vegas, one of the least demanding tracks in terms of aerodynamic load, albeit with some modifications. At the rear, Ferrari adopted a low-downforce setup similar to the one used in Monza. The goal was to reduce aerodynamic load by about 20% to simulate the downforce levels expected for 2026.
Source:1ingenerale
It also appears that DRS was extensively used, even in areas of the track not normally designated for it during a race weekend, to compensate for the front and rear load.
Performance and 2026 Projections
Lap times were significantly slower, suggesting a performance drop for 2026 cars. However, these data should be interpreted cautiously, as Pirelli’s sole objective was to gather useful information for tire development. Drawing conclusions about future performance based on the Barcelona data would be premature, given that the tests were conducted with cars conceptually different from those that will hit the track in a year.
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA’s single-seater director, had predicted that despite the aerodynamic load reduction, 2026 cars would still achieve lap times similar to current ones. This outcome is the result of several revisions to the original 2026 regulations, introduced to prevent a performance drop of up to two seconds per lap.
Nikolas Tombazis explained: “We have increased the car’s aerodynamic performance by about 50 points of downforce, reducing the loss of load—which was initially estimated at around -40%—to approximately -15%. In terms of performance, lap times for the new cars will be very close to current ones. This was done as promised in June.”
What we witnessed was only a simulation, still far from the reality that awaits us. Only when the new single-seaters take to the track will we be able to draw concrete conclusions.
Source: f1ingenerale
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