Pirelli completes 2026 rubber tests in Bahrain

      After the official pre–season tests were completed, not all teams left the Sakhir circuit - the Alpine and Williams brigades, although in a reduced composition, remained there to conduct Pirelli tire tests.

      We told you that the Italian company plans to test prototypes of rubber designed for 2026 on March 2 and 3. These are 18-inch tires of the new generation, they are narrower, and their diameter is also reduced. The width of the front ones will be 25 mm smaller, the rear ones will be 30 mm smaller.

      The program of the first day of tests included an analysis of the behavior of tires of the same composition on the track, but differing in design. Carlos Sainz was driving the Williams car yesterday, completing 116 laps, the best of which was 1:34.740, while Rio Hirakawa was driving the Alpine.

      He competes in the WEC for Toyota Gazoo Racing, but also serves as a reserve driver for the Renault factory team and flew to Bahrain from Qatar, where the first stage of the World Endurance Championship was held on Friday.

      Hirakawa drove 131 laps on Sunday, his best result was 1:35.336.

      Both cars for these tests were specially prepared for tires of the new specification – in Formula 1, such versions are called mule cars, i.e. literally, "mule car", although this English word can also be interpreted as a "crossbreed". In this case, we are talking about a chassis with a transitional version of the chassis.

      The 2023 Alpine A523 and Williams FW45 cars are used for tire tests, and this morning they were taken to the track by other riders: Alpine reservist Paul Aron and Alex Albon, Sainz's partner. Their task was different: they tested tires of different compositions, from C1 to C3, but all the tires were identical in design.

      Unlike last week, the weather in Bahrain improved, today the temperatures were in the range of 19-24 degrees, the asphalt warmed up to 38 degrees, which contributed to productive work.

      Aron completed 130 laps with a best time of 1:35.407; Elbon completed 120 laps with his best time of 1.35.667.

      "We have completed another very useful day in the 2026 tire development program," said Mario Isola, Director of Pirelli Motorsport. – The mileage gained was almost 2,700 km, we were able to collect a significant amount of data, which will allow us to move forward. I am very grateful to the drivers and teams who stayed in Bahrain for three more days, although it is a very busy period now, because the first stage of the season is less than two weeks away.

      In Sakhir, we continued to compare different types of structures and different compositions – the toughest of the entire spectrum, which are suitable for this particular track. Now our colleagues from the research department will carefully analyze everything and offer their conclusions so that we can continue to improve our product designed for the next generation of machines."

      Pirelli's 2026 rubber tests will continue on May 7-8 at Silverstone; the Mercedes team will be working on the British track, testing prototypes of intermediate tires, as well as tires for heavy rain.