Pirelli and F1 are on the lookout for a new formula to bring spectacle and excitement back to the races. Since the introduction of the new ground-effect single-seaters, teams have complained about excessive tire overheating leading to high degradation. Starting from 2025, all of this could change.
Formula 1 is gearing up for significant changes. Not only with the new regulations in 2026, bringing the Volkswagen Group with Audi back into the sport, but there’s also a revolution in the works concerning Pirelli tires, starting as early as 2025. The Italian company is working closely with drivers and teams to develop new tire compounds that can ensure more excitement on the track.
However, Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport at Pirelli, puts the brakes on the degradation issue: “Without high tire degradation, aiming for two pit stops per race doesn’t make sense. I also believe that a significant portion of the on-track action is precisely due to tire wear and how well a driver manages it. If we reduce it, I am convinced that trains of cars would form: if one can push, everyone can push.”
“We want to understand how to act on on-track action and, at the same time, reduce degradation,” Isola continues, suggesting the start of in-depth analyses on the matter in the coming weeks. “It is crucial to understand if there will be unexpected consequences.”
What emerges from Mario Isola’s words is a clear request to the world of Formula 1: whatever objective is to be achieved, it must be agreed upon in advance with the approval of all parties involved. “We need to understand what is good for the sport. Certainly, the opinions of drivers who would like less degradation should be considered, but the ultimate goal must be for the benefit of the sport.” – then Italian concluded.
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