Tires, tires, tires. With the past rain races, the slicks and wets have been a big topic of conversation. The full wets are hardly used, while the intermediates seem to work well, but they can't be raced in heavy rain. The mediums also sometimes seem a better option than the softs: even in qualifying, this has happened. How is tyre production for the 2026 cars going?
This Formula 1 season a lot of testing is already being done for next year, when the rules in Formula 1 are going to be overhauled.
The new cars naturally have new characteristics, as a result of which suitable tires also need to be looked at. When Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola is asked about developing the new tires, he has to admit to, among others, GPBlog: "It's difficult."
"But it's similar to the situation we had years ago in 2021 and 2016 when there was a big change in the regulations."
In principle, Pirelli's tyres work well. Teams often manage well with them, but the full wets remain a sore spot.
Isola doesn't get into the compounds further, but does say that 'the test is going well'.
Pirelli benefits from the help of F1 teams
Isola gives a bit more hope about the tyres for next year: "We are lucky that we can test with all the teams because they have different mule cars, so we can collect more information.
"We work a lot on the virtual model of the tyre as well together with the teams", says the Pirelli boss.
Will the tyres be a success next year? Isola dares to state: "I'm confident that we will have a good product. Now the construction is almost finalised. We are working on the compounds."
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