The tracks of Bahrain witnessed a significant event as Carlos Sainz and Ryo Hirakawa undertook the testing of the Formula 1 2026 tyres. Sainz, manning a repurposed 2023 Williams, was out on the track on Sunday, performing a tyre evaluation for Pirelli. Alongside him was Ryo Hirakawa, the Alpine reserve driver, who had just returned from the inaugural round of the World Endurance Championship in Qatar.
The duo was engaged on the initial day of the test-run, as Pirelli, the tyre provider for Formula 1, stayed on in Sakhir to test their proposed F1 2026 tyres. The session may not have been indicative of the forthcoming season, but as Sainz previously remarked in Bahrain, a day and a half in a new car is “ridiculously little” preparation for a new race season. However, the extra day of testing offered him more time on the seat on behalf of Pirelli.
The 2023 Williams FW45, driven by Sainz and Hirakawa, was especially altered to suit the tyres’ new specifications under test. Pirelli is considering reducing the diameter of the 18-inch tyres to be used from 2026 and narrowing them by 25mm on the front tyres and 30mm at the rear. The aim is to achieve minimal loss in grip during this modification.
Pirelli’s test run will extend into Monday with modified 2023 machinery. The testing will include Paul Aron, another Alpine reserve driver, and Alex Albon from Williams, who will get another day behind the wheel before the new season commences.
George Russell, who has previously participated in the 2026 tyre testing, expressed his concerns about the new construction. Speaking to media outlets including PlanetF1.com, he commented that the new, narrower tyres were more challenging compared to the current wider ones. He added that the performance of the new tyres was a step down, and he hoped for improvements in the coming months.
Toto Wolff, the team principal for Mercedes, emphasized the need for collaboration between the teams and Pirelli in this new venture. He stressed the importance of sharing the data collected and feedback from the drivers directly with Pirelli and integrating them into the regulations. He also added that the teams need to adapt to these new tyres as they will be standard for everyone. He concluded by saying that it was crucial for the sport, the teams, and Pirelli to ensure the best tyres were developed.