The 2024 Formula 1 season concluded yesterday with post-season testing at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, where teams and drivers had a final opportunity to test the 2025 tires before the winter tests scheduled for February.
Pirelli, in turn, was able to gather the latest data on its range of tires to be provided to the Formula 1 teams. Based on the information collected, everything seems to be heading in the right direction… with one small question mark.
“The track was in similar conditions to Sunday, but the difference was that we ran during the day with higher temperatures, so we expected slightly more overheating compared to Sunday or the rest of the weekend,” said Mario Isola, head of Pirelli’s Motorsport division.
“The comments are that the overheating is similar, and this is good news. It means that under comparable conditions, it is probably lower. Abrasion is lower. This is another element we wanted to improve, as this year we had some graining, and we want to reduce it.”
“We tested all five compounds, and the delta between them seems to be fairly well-spaced. The C2 is closer to the C3, about half a second between compounds. The teams had the opportunity to run all day without red flags, so we saw many different programs.”
“The teams were free to run with plans they defined themselves. We did not impose any run plan. Now the data is important for us to understand the possible selections for next year’s races, especially for the C6.”
The C6 is precisely the compound that perhaps raised the only question to be resolved over the winter. The softest compound was designed for some street circuits, but in tests conducted so far, it has shown that it cannot last an entire lap on the tracks where it was tested.
“The C6 worked well for some drivers, or a bit better than the C5 for some, similar for others. The feeling is that the C6 performs well in the first part of the circuit, but in the third sector, where good traction is needed, degradation is high from the first lap. If we confirm this from the data, it means we need to consider the races where we will select the C6.”
“The initial idea was Monaco, Montreal, Singapore, and Las Vegas. In these four races, we will analyze the data, evaluate how the C5 performed this year, and then decide for 2025. There were no unexpected issues or anything unforeseen, so everything went smoothly.”
The same characteristics of the C6 were noted in previous tests. During the Pirelli tests at Monza, where the compound was tested by teams, it struggled in the final sector (a similar scenario was observed in Mexico City).
“From the data we have seen, it seems the C6 does not last the entire lap in Mexico,” said Pirelli’s Simone Berra. “This is something we also observed at Monza, and it is related to the characteristics of the track, the layout, and the temperatures.”
“The C6 struggled more, especially in the last sector in Mexico, and in fact, it was not faster than the C5. If we look at the times, it was more in line with those of the C5.”
Now Pirelli will have a few more weeks to determine where to use the C6, ensuring it does not exhibit the drop-off seen at Monza, Hermanos Rodriguez, and Yas Marina. It will likely become ideal for street circuits with less abrasive surfaces and moderate temperatures compared to those in which it has been tested in recent months.
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