Pirelli completes final 2026 Formula 1 tyre test at Abu Dhabi post-season session
Pirelli has wrapped up its final 2026 Formula 1 tyre test during the post-season running at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, giving teams their first collective data on the next-generation rubber ahead of new technical regulations taking effect. Inside Sport
All ten Formula 1 teams took part in the intensive testing programme the day after the season-ending grand prix, with combinations of race drivers and young talent running Pirelli’s 2026 tyre range on narrower tyre widths that align with the revised aerodynamic and chassis rules set for next season.
The updated tyres will sit on the same 18-inch rims as the current generation but feature reduced tread widths fore and aft as part of Formula 1’s effort to reshape car behaviour in 2026. Pirelli also confirmed a simplified five-compound slick range will be used next season, following the decision to drop the experimental softest compound from testing.
During the Abu Dhabi test, data collected from different fuel loads and team run priorities will help Pirelli finalise the homologation of the new compounds before they are ready for use in pre-season testing early next year. The extensive mileage achieved by teams will be crucial in confirming performance and wear characteristics ahead of the launch of the new era.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was fastest among drivers on the 2026 tyres, while Aston Martin’s Jak Crawford topped the overall combined times during tyre and young driver running. Current world champion Lando Norris also participated in structured tyre work on McLaren’s development mule car.
The session signals the final major on-track development step for Pirelli’s 2026 range before Formula 1 teams begin competitive action under the updated rules from the season opener.
Editor’s View
Pirelli’s final 2026 tyre test in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in the sport’s evolution ahead of next year’s radical rule changes. For tyre makers, adapting rubber compounds and constructions to new aerodynamic behaviours and narrower tyre profiles is a technical challenge that goes beyond grip figures alone.
From a tyre industry perspective, these tests illustrate how motorsport remains a cutting-edge development ground for tyre technologies, even as regulations push designers toward different performance envelopes. The data and insights gained here will influence how tyres behave under a broader range of conditions, potentially informing future road tyre developments as well.
