Ferrari and Pirelli carried out a take a look at at Fiorano to outline the rain tyres forward of 2026. The intermediate is now basically finalised, whereas the main target is on the total moist, with the objective of creating it extra versatile and usable, additionally by repositioning the crossover level between the 2 forms of tyres. It gained’t remedy the visibility subject, however it’s going to make the tyre simpler.
After the Canadian Grand Prix, Ferrari returned to motion a couple of days in the past on the Fiorano circuit for a non-public take a look at session with Pirelli, targeted on the event of tyres set to debut in 2026—the yr that can mark the start of a brand new technical cycle in Method 1.
The vehicles will likely be considerably redesigned, not solely as a result of introduction of latest energy items but in addition as a result of they are going to be shorter and lighter. With this in thoughts, Pirelli has additionally contributed by growing lighter and narrower tyres. As ordinary, the Milan-based producer has plenty of take a look at days all through the season to judge the tyres meant for the next yr’s championship.
For the reason that finish of final yr, Pirelli’s efforts have been solely targeted on growing the 2026 tyres. The latest session, in chronological order, was the one at Fiorano, carried out with Ferrari and devoted completely to moist tyres, making the most of the irrigation system on the observe owned by the Prancing Horse.
Alternatives to check rain tyres are fairly restricted, as they rely on each climate situations and the provision of appropriate amenities. The place synthetic irrigation exists—reminiscent of at Fiorano—operating is extra constant; elsewhere, tankers are used to moist the observe. Regardless of the warmth decreasing splendid situations for the take a look at, the info collected proved useful.
The event of the intermediate tyre is now in its last part, and the take a look at in Emilia-Romagna offered helpful affirmation following earlier trials carried out with Mercedes at Silverstone a couple of weeks in the past. Nevertheless, the session with the Maranello crew was notably vital in one other respect: validating new options for the total moist tyre.
Regardless that the intermediate is essentially the most generally used tyre in wet situations—and subsequently Pirelli’s essential precedence—the total moist can also be present process a big revision course of. The Italian producer goals to create a extra versatile tyre, one which overheats much less rapidly, particularly when the observe begins to dry, and is genuinely usable even in heavy rain.
The principle focus of the take a look at with Ferrari was exactly to judge new options to enhance the total moist’s competitiveness. Specifically, consideration was given to the so-called “crossover” level—the perfect second for switching between full wets and intermediates, and vice versa.
It’s no secret that many drivers have repeatedly criticised the total moist’s restricted effectiveness in comparison with the intermediate, typically preferring to change early to the green-striped tyre, which gives higher grip. This considerably narrows the total moist’s precise working window, decreasing its use.
Pirelli’s acknowledged objective is to widen this window, making the total moist a genuinely aggressive different and bringing its crossover level nearer to that of the intermediate. Naturally, this gained’t remedy essentially the most crucial downside in heavy rain—poor visibility, which regularly results in race suspensions—however the purpose is to present groups extra strategic choices by making it a extra viable tyre.
“I imagine we’re in a reasonably good scenario now. The intermediate tyre was already roughly outlined [before the Fiorano test]. We have to validate some new options for the acute moist tyre,” defined Pirelli’s Motorsport Director throughout a media briefing, earlier than explaining that the objective is to reposition the crossover level, simply because it’s performed with slicks, which have an outlined efficiency delta between compounds.
“Specifically, we are attempting to establish a special crossover level from the present one, in order to make the total moist extra usable—not simply behind the Security Automobile but in addition as a real race tyre. We all know that the actual limitation of the total moist tyre stays visibility, and that’s one thing that may’t be solved. However right now, we are able to say that each the intermediate and the total moist are in an excellent part of improvement.”
Jun 24, 2025
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