Pirelli, the sole official tire supplier for Formula 1, is actively preparing for the upcoming 2026 regulatory changes by conducting a series of extensive tests. The goal is to develop tires that are already suited to the next generation of F1 cars. Recently, Mario Isola, Pirelli’s head of F1 and technical director, shared important insights into the company’s preparations, openly expressing both confidence and the remaining uncertainties as the sport approaches the major technical transition.
Starting points for Pirelli
Pirelli’s preparation for the 2026 season began during the previous championship campaign. Essentially, developing a new range of tire compounds is an iterative process carried out in close collaboration with the various teams. Unlike the teams, Pirelli does not have its own car model, so it relies on a parallel exchange of detailed data provided by the teams to simulate real-world performance.
Simulations, indoor tests, and on-track testing are the primary tools Pirelli uses to design the new tires. These activities allow engineers to refine the rubber compounds while simultaneously tracking the ongoing development of the cars in their design phase. For 2026, Pirelli intends to maintain the current six different compounds, ensuring continuity while facing new challenges. The loads that the tires will need to withstand will differ significantly, both aerodynamically and mechanically, compared to the current generation.
Even with sophisticated test programs using specially modified “mule cars” on the track, accurately predicting the stress and performance of the tires remains challenging. The basic principle, however, is to align the hardness range of the compounds with those currently in use. For the teams, this is a significant advantage, as it allows them to partially use a product they already understand and trust.
Maintaining six different compounds also serves as a safeguard for Pirelli. As Mario Isola has explained, having such a wide variety allows the company to fine-tune the performance of the tires based on the actual performance of the 2026 cars once they are on track, ensuring flexibility and adaptability throughout the season.
Adapting to the evolution of the 2026 cars
The 2026 Formula 1 cars will undergo significant development, which means that tire strategies will need to remain adaptable throughout the season. Modifying the chemical composition of the tread or the tire carcass during the year will not be allowed under the regulations. A historical example comes from 2017, when the switch from the narrower 2016 tires to wider tires revealed that the range of compounds was not perfectly optimized, necessitating a full review for 2018. Predicting similar challenges for 2026 is difficult.
While tire dimensions will remain the same, numerous variables—including power unit performance, aerodynamic load management, and tire wear patterns—will impact the tires’ behavior. Fortunately, technological improvements in simulation have greatly enhanced Pirelli’s predictive capabilities. According to the Italian manufacturer, the correlation between simulated environments and real-world performance is now extremely accurate, making it less likely to make errors in tire construction.
However, the cars themselves will continue to evolve during the season. The introduction of new upgrades, driven by the intense competition expected in 2026, will accelerate vehicle performance. Pirelli is paying close attention to this factor, as the improvement of car performance over the course of the year could shift the optimal tire window toward harder compounds, better suited to withstand higher loads.
Looking ahead, this trend may become more apparent in the latter stages of the 2026 season, especially as Pirelli prepares to launch a new range of tires for 2027, with compounds better calibrated to the demands of the next generation of Formula 1 cars. Although it is still early to draw definitive conclusions, there is confidence in the high-quality work Pirelli is conducting, including on wet-weather tires, despite the FIA offering limited tools to assist in this complex process.
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