Lando Norris has warned that Formula 1 could face serious tyre problems at the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix, following criticism of Pirelli’s wet-weather compounds from Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar after the Brazilian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver fears that the low temperatures expected in Las Vegas could make it particularly difficult to bring tyres into their optimal operating window, while his rivals have called for improvements to wet-weather grip and performance.
The São Paulo Grand Prix marked the first weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season to be significantly affected by rain. Aquaplaning and a narrow tyre operating window made conditions more dangerous than several drivers had anticipated, although Pirelli maintained that its tyres performed as expected.
Max Verstappen criticises Pirelli wet tyres after Brazilian GP comeback
Max Verstappen produced an impressive recovery at Interlagos, climbing from 21st on the starting grid to finish second behind race winner Lando Norris. Despite that result, the Red Bull driver was highly critical of both Pirelli’s intermediate and extreme wet compounds following the chequered flag.
“I think the main problem is that the operating window is a little too narrow,” Max Verstappen explained. “When they’re up to temperature, they’re fine, but when they’re cold, it really is like driving with stones instead of tyres.”
The Dutch driver believes Pirelli needs to develop tyres with a wider working temperature range, reducing the difficulty of generating grip in challenging wet conditions. Drivers already have to contend with poor visibility and standing water, making the additional problem of maintaining tyre temperature particularly demanding.
“That’s something we need to try to work on, to achieve a wider operating window for both the Extreme Wets and the Intermediates,” Max Verstappen added.
Isack Hadjar raises aquaplaning and safety concerns at Interlagos
Isack Hadjar was even more direct in his assessment of Pirelli’s wet-weather tyres. The French driver qualified fifth on Saturday before securing his third podium of the 2026 Formula 1 season on Sunday, but remained concerned about how the compounds behaved in wet conditions.
“I think on Saturday, when we were using the Extreme Wet compound, there wasn’t a particularly large amount of water on the track, yet I experienced too much aquaplaning for the conditions. It also seems to me that you have to wait quite a long time before you can switch to the Intermediates.”
“It’s as though you can only switch to them when there’s no longer any standing water and you can finally push. In a way, I get the impression that the compounds have become a little stiffer, harder than in the past.”
Isack Hadjar believes that increasing the available grip would improve both the driving experience and the level of safety in difficult conditions. His concerns were particularly strong regarding the opening stages of qualifying at Interlagos.
“I think we’d all have a bit more fun with more grip. I also think that yesterday, during qualifying, the first three laps of Q1 were quite dangerous.”
Lando Norris fears Las Vegas GP tyre problems in cold conditions
While Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar focused primarily on the behaviour of Pirelli’s wet-weather tyres in Brazil, Lando Norris believes the next Grand Prix could expose the temperature-management problem even more clearly.
Las Vegas already presents a considerable challenge in dry conditions because of its low temperatures, which make it difficult for drivers to generate sufficient heat in their tyres. The McLaren driver fears that the situation could become particularly problematic if the compounds cannot reach their ideal operating range.
“I think the most worrying moments are when you go to Las Vegas and you can’t get the tyres up to temperature. We need a much better tyre than the one we have here, because otherwise it will be a disaster.”
The Las Vegas Grand Prix is expected to provide another demanding test for teams attempting to manage their tyres effectively. The importance of generating sufficient temperature in cold conditions has already been highlighted in Fred Vasseur’s assessment of Ferrari’s tyre challenges ahead of Las Vegas.
For Lando Norris, the concern is that the narrow operating window experienced at Interlagos could become an even greater problem at a circuit where bringing tyres up to temperature is already difficult.
Pirelli rejects criticism and defends Brazilian GP tyre performance
Despite the criticism from several Formula 1 drivers, Pirelli has rejected suggestions that its tyres failed to perform properly at Interlagos. The Italian manufacturer maintained that the compounds behaved in line with its expectations during a race complicated by changing weather conditions.
Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi defended the performance of the tyres and highlighted the strategic flexibility they provided throughout the Brazilian Grand Prix.
“Overall, both the Intermediates and the Softs delivered performance in line with expectations, providing the teams with different strategic options in a race characterised by uncertainty over the weather conditions.”
The contrasting assessments underline the disagreement between drivers and Formula 1’s tyre supplier following the first significantly rain-affected weekend of the season. While Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar want improvements to the operating range and wet-weather grip, Pirelli remains satisfied with how its compounds performed in Brazil.
Attention now turns to the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where the cold conditions could provide another demanding tyre-management challenge. Whether the concerns raised by Lando Norris become a major factor remains to be seen.
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