Following the wet and unpredictable 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli stayed at the British circuit for two additional days of intensive testing. The Milan-based company continued its development programme for the 2026 Formula 1 tyres, focusing specifically on the harder compounds—namely the C1, C2, and C3 slick tyres—under dry conditions. The structural development of the tyres has already been completed, and the upcoming test is scheduled to take place in Hungary at the beginning of August.
After the rain-affected Grand Prix weekend, Pirelli capitalised on the return of dry weather to carry out uninterrupted testing at the same Silverstone track. The objective of these sessions was to advance the development of the tyres intended for the new 2026 Formula 1 technical regulations. The testing focused entirely on slick compounds, as the dry conditions offered the ideal environment for accurate data collection.
The emphasis of this test session was on refining the performance characteristics of the harder tyre compounds. Pirelli has already finalised most of the work related to the internal construction of the new tyres, which are being designed to meet the specific demands of the 2026 F1 regulations. The current focus is now fully on evaluating and selecting the most effective compound formulations.
Two Formula 1 teams—Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber—supported Pirelli’s test programme by providing their current 2025 race cars. These were the same chassis used during the British Grand Prix weekend, albeit with certain modifications to align with the objectives of the tyre tests. Specific aerodynamic configurations and suspension settings were implemented, echoing the wet test sessions previously conducted by Scuderia Ferrari at Fiorano in June.
To replicate the reduced aerodynamic loads expected under the 2026 regulations, engineers opted for extremely low-downforce setups. These included sustained use of the DRS (Drag Reduction System) on straights to further minimise drag. Given Silverstone’s high demands on tyres due to its aggressive layout, Pirelli chose to concentrate on testing the hardest compounds. Softer tyres, such as the C4 and C5, will instead be tested at less demanding circuits, including the Hungaroring in Budapest and Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
The test programme was split into two main phases. During the morning sessions, the drivers focused on short runs aimed at analysing the pure performance potential of the various prototype compounds. In the afternoon, the attention shifted to long-run simulations to assess factors such as tyre degradation, consistency over multiple laps, and overall behaviour during race-style stints.
On the second day of testing, Canadian driver Lance Stroll took the wheel of the modified Aston Martin AMR25 mule car. Conveniently based just a few hundred metres from the Silverstone paddock, the Aston Martin team allowed Stroll to complete a total of 126 laps, recording a best lap time of 1:30.195. Meanwhile, Sauber fielded Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in the adapted C45 chassis. Bortoleto, who had also taken part in the first day of testing, covered 110 laps with a personal best of 1:33.188.
“Overall, these were two very positive and productive days,” commented Gabriel Bortoleto. “Being able to test at Silverstone—a circuit I absolutely love—made the whole experience even more special. We completed the entire planned programme without any issues. It was also useful to begin getting familiar with the 2026 tyre compounds. From what I’ve felt so far, traction seems to have improved compared to the current tyres, which allows for smoother and more controlled throttle application when exiting corners.”
Combining the laps completed by Aston Martin and Sauber over the two-day testing period, a total of 458 laps were recorded—equivalent to more than eight full Grand Prix race distances. Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola offered an update on the situation, confirming that the development of the internal tyre construction has been completed and that homologation is expected to take place in early September. Attention will now shift toward the finalisation of compound selection.
“We are now entering the most critical phase of developing the tyres for the 2026 Formula 1 season,” said Mario Isola. “At Silverstone, we effectively concluded the work related to tyre construction, and we will now analyse all the data collected in preparation for the upcoming homologation deadline at the beginning of September. As for the hardest compounds, we still have time to finalise them by November, as indicated by the current FIA regulations.”
Pirelli’s 2026 tyre development programme will continue in the coming weeks. The next official test session is scheduled for August 5–6 at the Hungaroring, immediately after the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. Further tests are also planned at the historic Monza circuit in Italy, at the Mugello Circuit, and at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City—locations that will be essential for completing the development and definition of the full range of tyres that will debut under Formula 1’s new technical regulations in 2026.
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