Wet-weather racing in Formula 1 remains a hot topic. In recent years, we’ve frequently seen race control intervene to stop races due to extreme rain. Pirelli is actively working on this issue, and by 2026, the full wet tyres could return to regular use. The main challenge is visibility, along with operating temperatures, which is now the key focus for the tyre supplier.
The two most memorable recent events were the 2024 race at Interlagos and, more notably, Spa in 2021. Extreme wet races have posed a significant problem for both F1 and Pirelli in recent years. The blue-banded full wets are difficult to use during races because they overheat too quickly. Ferrari recently completed tests at Fiorano that focused heavily on addressing this issue.
Pirelli’s feedback
According to simulations, the current full wet tyres can displace 85 litres of water per second per tyre. Combined with the spray from the diffuser, this creates a mist that severely reduces visibility for the drivers behind. Pirelli’s goal is to reduce this effect and make full wets usable even during actual race conditions in 2026.
Mario Isola commented on the progress made to improve this compound: “We’re in a reasonably good position at the moment. The intermediate tyres are more or less ready for 2026. We still need to finalise some new solutions for the full wets.”
“We’re trying to create a different crossover point between the two compounds compared to what we have now, to make the full wets more usable. Not just behind the Safety Car, but during real racing. We know visibility is the problem. That’s something we won’t be able to solve entirely.”
The goal is to move from the current 118% to 115% in terms of lap time crossover between compounds under dry conditions. In conclusion, it is expected that wet tyres will be used more frequently in the next season, though likely not in extreme conditions.
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