No more racing in the wet: Pirelli’s proposal for rain
In modern Formula 1, tyre management is becoming an increasingly decisive factor. Teams that are able to extend tyre life or better understand their behaviour gain a clear advantage over their rivals, especially now that the performance gap between compounds has narrowed. However, there remains a major unresolved issue: racing in the rain.
In recent Grands Prix held in wet conditions, we have seen race control prefer to stop the race with the red flag rather than rely on full wet tyres. A prime example was the Belgian Grand Prix, where the start was delayed by about 90 minutes to give the track time to dry. While it was reasonable not to take excessive risks at a circuit as dangerous as Spa, this situation penalised the drivers who had opted for a “wet setup”, since the race eventually took place only on intermediate tyres.
Mario Isola’s proposal
As Mario Isola has already explained, the core of the problem lies with the ground-effect cars which, when combined with the extreme wet compounds, generate too much spray, making visibility almost impossible. In a recent interview with Motorsport, the Pirelli motorsport director put forward a potential solution: a single wet-weather design. “A product that works in wet conditions with a crossover point to slicks. This solution would allow better use of rain tyres and avoid having a full wet which today, in reality, is not being used,” said the engineer.
The idea is therefore to introduce one single “rain” tyre, and then collaborate with track organisers to tackle the visibility issue by modifying asphalt surfaces or introducing better drainage systems. “If we find a way to eliminate standing water, a design like the one I described could work,” added Isola. Even if there are obstacles in development right now, the situation is even more uncertain for 2026. The new generation of cars could create less spray, but it remains difficult to predict how the redesigned wings will behave.
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