Pirelli boss Mario Isola has given an insight into the first test session of F1’s new 2026 tyres that took place earlier this week, with the Italian confident that the learnings provided a strong “baseline for future development”.
Aston Martin were the first team to run with the new tyres, which remain 18 inches in wheel size but will feature a smaller width and external diameter, with the front axles reduced by 25mm and the rears by 30mm.
READ MORE: F1’s new 2026 tyres make track debut during first test session in Barcelona
Felipe Drugovich got behind the wheel of an adapted 2023 car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday and completed 670 kilometres with the prototype tyres on.
Asked ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix about how the test went, Isola explained: “Obviously it was the first test, our main job was to correlate simulations with the new car. We know that new cars cannot be representative, considering that [the] 2026 cars are completely different.
“I believe we did a good job, and thanks to Aston Martin, the first team running the test. [We gained] valuable information, and probably also a good starting point as a baseline for future development.”
