Ferrari Uses Pirelli 2026 Tyre Tests to Refine Lewis Hamilton’s Italian GP ‘Winning Weapon’
Ferrari has cleverly combined its support for Pirelli’s 2026 Formula 1 tyre development with strategic preparations for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. While assisting Pirelli in designing tyres for next year’s radically revised regulations, the Scuderia also seized the opportunity to test components aimed at boosting performance for this weekend’s home race.
The 2026 Formula 1 season promises the most significant technical overhaul in decades, featuring new engine regulations, revised chassis rules, and the introduction of active aerodynamics. In response, Pirelli is developing tyres that are 25mm narrower at the front and 30mm narrower at the rear to cope with the higher loads and altered performance characteristics of next year’s cars.
Several top teams contributed to Pirelli’s 2026 tyre development programme by using mule cars engineered to replicate the stresses and dynamics of 2026 machinery. Ferrari conducted a wet tyre test at their Fiorano circuit in June, followed by a dry tyre evaluation at the Hungaroring in August. These sessions provided crucial insights into the upcoming tyre specifications and car behaviour under different conditions.
During the Hungarian tyre test, Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron set the fastest lap, recording a 1:18.789, while McLaren’s Lando Norris (1:19.272), Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson (1:19.510), and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1:19.407) also ran the 2026 C3, C4, and C5 compounds extensively. These exercises gave Ferrari a wealth of data for both next year’s regulations and their current 2025 setup.
Ferrari Trials Low-Downforce Rear Wing for Monza During Tyre Tests
In addition to supporting Pirelli, Ferrari strategically used the 2026 tyre tests to experiment with a low-downforce rear wing specifically aimed at the Monza circuit. Motorsport.com reports that the Scuderia evaluated the wing during both the wet Fiorano session and the dry Hungaroring test. The component features a flat main profile combined with a mobile flap featuring a reduced chord, designed to reduce drag and maximize straight-line speed for Monza’s long straights.
Ferrari’s Technical Director, Loic Serra, who moved from Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton, highlighted the potential importance of the low-downforce rear wing. Serra noted that the data collected during the Pirelli tyre tests was vital to understanding how the car could perform under reduced downforce conditions. The design effectively simulates the approximately 20% downforce reduction expected under the 2026 regulations, giving Ferrari an early advantage in aerodynamic understanding.
Charles Leclerc was able to sample Ferrari’s low-load rear wing during the second day of the Pirelli 2026 tyre test in Hungary. Lewis Hamilton, however, will not have his first opportunity to evaluate the wing until Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, marking his debut run with this new aerodynamic configuration at Monza.
Hamilton Faces Grid Penalty, Adding Pressure on Ferrari at Monza
Despite Loic Serra’s optimism about the new rear wing, Ferrari arrives at Monza under pressure. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton retired from the Dutch Grand Prix after crashes at Turn 3, and Lewis Hamilton now faces a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow under double-waved yellow flags at Zandvoort. The penalty could severely limit his chances of securing Ferrari’s first victory of the 2025 season on home soil.
The Scuderia is aiming to replicate the success of past Italian Grands Prix, where back-to-back victories at Monza were achieved by Rubens Barrichello (2002, 2004) and Michael Schumacher (2003). Charles Leclerc’s 2024 Italian GP win, achieved with a masterful one-stop strategy, marked his second career victory at Monza and Ferrari’s most recent triumph there. Ferrari will be eager to build on that legacy with a strong performance this weekend.
Ferrari’s use of Pirelli’s 2026 F1 tyre tests to refine their low-downforce Monza setup underlines the team’s commitment to optimizing performance on both short-term and long-term fronts. By combining aerodynamic innovation with tyre data analysis, the Scuderia is positioning both Leclerc and Hamilton to maximize their potential at one of the most iconic circuits on the F1 calendar.
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