The 2025 championship has not but begun, however ideas are already on 2026, with Pirelli assessments persevering with and Mario Isola sharing intriguing insights. In the present day and tomorrow, a number of groups will likely be at Montmeló for the primary assessments of 2025, utilizing tailored vehicles which might be nonetheless removed from the 2026 ideas. We mentioned this with Mario Isola, who shared unique particulars with F1inGenerale concerning the ongoing assessments and challenges.
In 2025, there’ll nonetheless be a number of take a look at days. How is the event of the brand new tires progressing?
“We now have a take a look at program that totally makes use of what the rules enable, which is 40 take a look at days. Particularly, these are 40 Automotive Days, as regulated, that means every day with one automotive counts as one. We now have tried to schedule a collection of classes on completely different tracks, each dry and moist, involving all groups. It’s because each workforce will create mule vehicles, making certain rotation amongst all groups. This permits us to think about each prime groups and midfield groups to seek out the most effective compromise.”
“Nevertheless, nothing has been finalized but. The primary classes happened within the second half of 2024. The actual drawback is that we’re testing with vehicles which have utterly completely different traits. Moreover, groups are nonetheless in a studying section with the brand new ideas. In apply, groups are serving to us with setup and gasoline load changes to get nearer to the brand new single-seaters. Nevertheless, simulating them is unattainable—the aero bundle is totally completely different, as are the size, energy unit, and aerodynamics.”
“Regardless of this, we will get nearer—maybe by avoiding assessments with 100 kg of gasoline and utilizing 70 kg as an alternative, to simulate the burden of the brand new single-seaters below race situations. Moreover, we’re aerodynamically restricted, as the present DRS solely acts on the rear wing, whereas subsequent 12 months it’ll even be on the entrance wing. We’re testing with Monza-style wings at Montmeló or on circuits requiring larger downforce. It’s not simple, and for the time being, nothing has been finalized—not the slick building, nor the design of the intermediate or moist tires. The whole lot continues to be a piece in progress, however the first purpose is clearly to lock within the building, which is step one, after which we are going to work on the compound vary.”
Digital Simulation Essential for the 2026 Pirellis
When requested concerning the rising significance of digital fashions in trendy F1, Mario Isola added the next:
“Correlation work is essential, and simply in latest days, we distributed the newest digital mannequin of the 2026 tires to the groups. It’s an ongoing course of, however the mule vehicles differ from one another, because the FIA solely offered normal tips for his or her growth. The FIA was involved that groups may use these assessments to simulate facets of the 2026 rules, however we’d like a automotive that’s as consultant as attainable.”
Supply: f1ingenerale