The first major tyre test of 2025 is in the books, and McLaren was at the forefront of Pirelli’s wet and intermediate tyre development for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The two-day test, held at Circuit Paul Ricard in France, provided valuable data as the sport prepares for a new era of wet-weather racing.
What’s Changing for 2026?
Pirelli’s 2026 wet and intermediate tyres will still run on 18-inch rims but will have a reduced width and external diameter on both the front and rear axles. The changes are aimed at improving performance, handling, and water dispersion in extreme conditions.
McLaren was tasked with putting these new prototype tyres through their paces over two days of intense wet-weather running.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri & Lando Norris Put in the Miles
The test took place on the 3.463-kilometer “2A” layout at Paul Ricard, a circuit well-known for its advanced sprinkler system that allows for controlled wet-weather conditions.
- Day 1 (Tuesday): Oscar Piastri completed 120 laps with a best time of 1:07.008.
- Day 2 (Wednesday): Lando Norris put in 123 laps, setting a best time of 1:07.956.
In total, McLaren covered 840 kilometers in full wet conditions, gathering crucial data for Pirelli’s ongoing tyre development program.
Consistent Wet Conditions for Reliable Data
Tuesday morning provided a brief dry spell, but Wednesday’s intermittent rain led to the use of water tankers and sprinklers to ensure a consistently damp track. This allowed Pirelli’s engineers to test multiple prototype tyre iterations under repeatable conditions.
Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport, Mario Isola, was pleased with the progress:
“The first test session of 2025 proved very useful. When testing wet weather tyres, it’s not easy to consistently reproduce the same track conditions to get reliable data, but over these past two days, we were able to acquire plenty of information that will be vital when it comes to defining the new intermediate and extreme wet tyres.”
What’s Next for Pirelli? Two More Tests in Spain
Pirelli’s 2025 tyre development program is just getting started. Next up are two crucial tests in Spain focused on dry-weather compounds:
- February 4-5: McLaren & Ferrari at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
- February 12-13: Jerez de la Frontera featuring Alpine (both days), McLaren (one day), and Mercedes (one day)
With three of F1’s top teams involved in the upcoming sessions, Pirelli will continue refining its 2026 tyre lineup before the new regulations come into effect.
Conclusion: Preparing for F1’s Future
McLaren’s first-hand involvement in the 2026 wet tyre development signals the team’s increasing role in shaping F1’s next generation. As Pirelli gathers more data from upcoming tests in Spain, teams will be watching closely to see how the new tyres impact car design, strategy, and race performance.
One thing’s for sure: wet-weather racing in 2026 is set to evolve. 🚀🌧️
