Pirelli addresses full wet tire controversy at Silverstone, prepares 2026 tire tests. Pirelli addressed the controversy over the lack of full wet tire use during the 2025 British GP.

Pirelli has provided clarity following the controversies sparked by the absence of full wet tire usage during the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and has announced upcoming tire development tests in preparation for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The challenging and rapidly changing weather conditions during the race led to widespread debate among teams, drivers, and fans, as none of the drivers chose to use the full wet tires at Silverstone. Pirelli stepped in to explain the situation and also revealed details about the scheduled testing sessions planned for next year’s tire regulations.

Weather was undoubtedly the dominant factor at the British Grand Prix, where McLaren’s Lando Norris achieved a memorable victory ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber. The conditions shifted quickly throughout the day, forcing drivers and teams to continuously adapt their strategies and anticipate their rivals’ moves.

Comments from Mario Isola After the Race

At the conclusion of the British Grand Prix, Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, gave a detailed overview of the tire performance observed on track. “As we saw last year, four out of the five available tire compounds were used during the race. It is a pity that the full wet tire was never deployed in race conditions. It would have been interesting to see the performance level compared to the intermediate tire, which was the most used compound in the race. Of course, there was significant graining and tire degradation, both related to the track conditions. Nevertheless, the drivers managed the tires well throughout the Grand Prix,” Isola stated.

Mario Isola then discussed the upcoming tire development tests focused on the 2026 regulations, which will take place in the coming days. “Our work at Silverstone is not yet finished. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be on track with Sauber and Aston Martin conducting development testing with the tires planned for the 2026 season. Behind the wheel will be Sauber’s young driver Gabriel Bortoleto, along with Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Felipe Drugovich.”