Two aspects that make post-season testing so important

The post-season testing session at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi marks Formula 1’s final day on track in 2024. Beyond giving young drivers the opportunity to hit the track and gain some experience, this test provides teams and Pirelli with an excellent opportunity to gather valuable data and insights on next season’s Pirelli tires.

While one car is dedicated to rookies or drivers primarily working in simulators during the season, using 2024 tires, the other car is already fitted with 2025 tires. For teams, this is a great chance to collect crucial data on next year’s tires, which include a wider range of compounds beyond those tested a few weeks ago in Mexico.

In Mexico City, teams participated in a session during the second free practice session exclusively focused on data collection for Pirelli, testing a single compound type in its 2024 and 2025 versions. For example, some teams were restricted to the C4 compound in both versions for comparison, while others tested C3, C5, or C6.

Additionally, as per Pirelli’s request, no setup changes were allowed that could skew the data. While this made the insights important, they were also limited. Moreover, the compounds tested during that session were not yet the homologated versions for the following year.

In contrast, in Abu Dhabi, teams had greater freedom in using the tires. They were not limited to a single compound but had access to a broader range of options. Teams had five different compounds, from C2 to C6, with the latter being the new addition for 2025.

However, teams had limited sets of C2 and C6 tires since these compounds were not particularly suitable for this track: the former is too hard and struggles to provide adequate grip, while the latter is too soft and cannot last a full lap, as seen in Mexico City. Nonetheless, the Italian manufacturer wanted to give teams the opportunity to gather some data and avoid starting the 2025 tests without any reference points. Simone Berra, Pirelli’s F1 Chief Engineer, stated that the company aimed to provide teams with the opportunity to run and gather data on the C2 and C6 compounds. However, he indicated that teams were expected to focus more on the C3, considered the baseline compound, as well as the C4 and C5.

In a Formula 1 season that, as shown this year, has been highly dependent on teams’ ability to optimize tire usage for both single laps and race stints, these tests offer a valuable opportunity to improve predictive models and gather new data for simulators during the winter break. Beyond changes to the compounds themselves, Pirelli has also modified the tire structures to handle the loads of the 2025 cars, making every piece of data essential for preparing for the upcoming season.

Simone Berra emphasized the importance of the tests, noting that they provide teams with their first opportunity to use the new homologated tires. He explained that this also marks the initial chance to collect data, which will be analyzed to refine simulations and models for the following year’s car.

For Pirelli, too, this test day is an excellent chance to gain a clearer understanding of the potential tire performance for next year. During the season, the Italian manufacturer conducted several test sessions with teams and trialed different compounds and constructions. To give an idea, during the Suzuka test after the Japanese GP, 12 different tires were tested.

Therefore, beyond the references obtained in the latter part of the season and during the practice session in Mexico, the post-season Abu Dhabi session also represents a great opportunity for Pirelli to have a clearer picture of performance differences across compounds for single laps.

Simone Berra highlighted the significance of the test, noting that despite conducting tests throughout the season and experimenting with various constructions and compounds, there had been limited opportunities to thoroughly evaluate performance differences in lap times between the different compounds.

This is particularly significant for the softer compounds, as Pirelli may consider skipping compounds in specific situations—a concept that has never been fully abandoned. Pirelli’s F1 Chief Engineer pointed out that while they had gathered extensive information, it had not been collected using homologated tires on a single track with multiple cars. He explained that this test provided the first opportunity to obtain references with at least five of the six compounds in the full range. He noted that understanding the performance delta would be valuable, as internal data collection was supplemented by the additional insights gained from on-track testing with ten teams.