A number can mark a milestone. But in Formula 1, it can also become a story: of drivers and engineers, of danger and decisions, of spectators and shared rituals, of research and precision. The presentation of the book A Stir of the Soul: Pirelli’s 500 GPs in the F1 World Championship, edited by the Pirelli Foundation and published by Marsilio Arte, took place today in the conference room of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as part of the 2026 Grand Prix. The volume celebrates Pirelli’s 500 races in the World Championship through a rich sequence of images and texts. Many materials come from the Pirelli Historical Archive.

The event brought together Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Executive Vice President and Chairman of Fondazione Pirelli; Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1®; H. E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, who contributed via video;Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety; and Nick Heidfeld, former Formula 1 driver, with journalist Tom Clarkson as moderator. During the event, the speakers reflected on the world of Formula 1 and on Pirelli’s relationship with motorsport, each bringing their own testimony and perspective. The result was a journey across eras, circuits, and technical as well as historical aspects, presenting Formula 1 as a powerful form of contemporary imagery and as a story of industry, innovation, and visual culture, looking ahead to future chapters with the same passion that marked its beginnings.

The book also celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship and reconstructs a story within its history. It begins at Silverstone on 13 May 1950, the day the World Championship was born. From that moment on, Pirelli has made its mark in three main periods (1950–1958; 1981–1991; and from 2011 onwards as Global Tyre Partner of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship). Alongside the protagonists on the track – from Alberto Ascari to Juan Manuel Fangio, to Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet, through to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen – the book also reveals the work of the technicians, engineers, and mechanics who make every Grand Prix possible. A world of experts who play a crucial role in shaping the competition. The volume is given a distinctive touch by a previously unpublished photographic reportage by Darren Heath devoted to the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. This contemporary section, created for the anniversary year, forms a visual bridge between memory and the future. The final section presents key metric overviews and infographics: kilometres, victories, records, and statistics. Together they condense decades of competition and, in a concise form, convey the numerical dimension of a total sport. 
A website with a wealth of materials and pictures accompanies the project: pirelli500gp.fondazionepirelli.org

These one-year extension options were included in the contract agreements signed between Pirelli, the FIA, and Formula 1® in 2023, when the company extended its presence in the top series for the three-year period 2025–2027.

Pirelli will therefore remain the exclusive tyre supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship™, the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship and F1 ACADEMY until the end of the 2028 season.

H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA: “Pirelli has been an important partner to the FIA Formula One World Championship for many years, providing a consistently high standard of performance, innovation, and safety at the highest level of our sport. This extension through to the end of 2028 provides stability for the championship and reflects the strong collaboration between the FIA, Formula One Group and Pirelli. Together, we continue to drive innovation and support the delivery of exciting racing for competitors, teams and fans around the world."

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1: "We’ve enjoyed an incredible history and partnership with Pirelli, relying on their technical brilliance and focus on performance, innovation, and sustainability for many years, so I'm delighted that the FIA and we will continue that relationship for another year. As we continue to push boundaries across the technical regulatory framework, Pirelli's commitment to quality gives all the teams and series it supplies peace of mind as they know they are working with some of the most advanced tyres in the world. I’d like to thank FIA President, His Excellency Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman of Pirelli - this extension is another fantastic example of working with expert partners, whose experience drives excellence and delivers the very best spectacle on track."

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman of Pirelli: “We are pleased to extend our presence in Formula 1 by a further year, to 2028, thanks to the agreement reached with the FIA – under the leadership of its President Mohammed Ben Sulayem – and with Formula 1. Last year, we surpassed the milestone of 500 Grands Prix, taking on and winning significant technological and innovation challenges throughout our long involvement. Pirelli is not just a supplier but instead a strategic partner that has been able to support the constant growth of the championship, driven by the joint work of the Federation and the promoter. Formula 1 represents the best laboratory for us to innovate, test cutting-edge technical solutions, and continually improve research and development processes, for the benefit of tomorrow’s road tyres. The extension of the partnership also allows us to continue supporting F1 ACADEMY, contributing to the growth and development of new talent in motorsport.”

Pirelli has been the exclusive partner of Formula 1® since 2011, having been present in the series since the inaugural race in 1950. Over more than 75 years, the company has played a pioneering role in the development of tyre-related technologies, accompanying the continuous evolution of the cars throughout the history of the championship, including the most recent changes to the technical regulations.

The company extends its thanks to Mario Isola, who will remain with Pirelli until July 1st, for his significant contribution to the development of the Motorsport business unit, carried out with dedication and great passion.

Pirelli announces that, effective March 1st, Dario Marrafuschi will become Head of Pirelli’s Motorsport Business Unit replacing Mario Isola who will provide support until July 1st to ensure a smooth and effective transition. Isola will then leave the company to pursue new professional challenges.

Marrafuschi, who joined the company in 2008, has extensive experience in Formula 1 in the Research and Development area and in recent years has headed the development of Pirelli’s road products. Like Isola, Marrafuschi will report to Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice President of Sustainability, New Mobility & Motorsport.

The Company wishes to thank Mario Isola for the dedication and great passion with which he has contributed to the growth of the Motorsport business unit over the years.

The design of the tyre graphics on the sidewalls is completely new. The emblematic markings that have been part of Pirelli’s identity for the past 14 seasons since it returned as exclusive Formula 1 tyre supplier in 2011 have now been reworked to incorporate a chequered flag logo.

This gives the new Formula 1 tyres a completely different look compared to any other motorsport or roadgoing product made by Pirelli, while maintaining all the historic design language that is synonymous with the Milan-based company.

The colours that identify the level of each compound during every grand prix are unchanged for next year. White, yellow, and red denote Hard, Medium, and Soft respectively, while green and blue are still the colours for the Intermediate and Full wet.

The 2026 P Zero range is made up of five compounds from C1 (the hardest) to C5 (the softest). Performance is similar to current levels, but with a wider and more consistent gap between each compound to encourage different race strategies. The intermediate and full wet tread patterns are the same as in 2025.

The tyre dimensions are now smaller to suit the new cars created for the latest regulations. The wheel rim diameter is still 18 inches, but the tread width is 25mm less at the front and 30mm less at the rear. The total diameter is also 15mm less at the front and 10mm less at the rear.

The 2026 tyres are being run today on track using mule cars driven by one or more of the official drivers from each team. The range of compounds will be formally homologated on December 15, as per the technical regulations.

The first session in which they will be seen on the new cars will be at the Barcelona test from January 26–30 next year, but these latest tyres will also be seen at the team launches, which are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Pirelli is already the global partner of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 Championships and, with this announcement, it reaffirms its role as sole tyre supplier for all FIA-run categories. In addition, Pirelli is also the designated sole tyre supplier for the Formula Regional and Formula 4 World Cups to be run as part of the Macau Grand Prix from 13 to 16 November.

Pirelli has supplied tyres to Formula Regional since its inception in 2019. Two years later, the European series became the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) following a merger with Formula Renault. Now it is poised for a major change with the introduction of a new car as from 2026. Pirelli will develop a new 15” tyre for this car, which will provide a higher technical specification, more excitement on track and standardised performance across all championships. The aim is to provide a consistent development path for drivers, irrespective of the region in which they race. As the new car is gradually introduced across all the Formula Regional championships, Pirelli will extend its exclusive supply.

The Macau Grand Prix, at which Pirelli will also supply tyres to competitors in the FIA GT World Cup, is one of the most important events on the motorsport calendar. This year’s edition will also feature the debut of the new FIA F4 World Cup, thereby aligning all the key junior categories to motor racing’s top level under the Pirelli banner. In Macau, the world’s best young drivers will take centre stage on track in an event which has launched the careers of many Formula 1 world champions.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President
“With Pirelli on board as exclusive tyre partner, Formula Regional is set to thrive and deliver incredible racing and greater sporting parity across our different championships so that we offer young drivers an equal opportunity to show their skill.

This next phase for Formula Regional reflects our ambition to create a truly modern, competitive, and accessible platform for developing drivers. With technical innovation at its core, controlled costs, and a clear pathway from regional series to the top tiers of the sport, we are investing in the future of global motor sport.”

Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director
“We are delighted to have been appointed sole tyre supplier for the FIA certified Formula Regional championships. Pirelli is proud of its role in the pyramid of single-seater series, present in all categories from top to bottom. It is a significant endorsement of the worth of our technology, and the quality and reliability of our tyres, but above all, it recognises our ability to deliver specific products for every level of driver development, meeting the targets set by the FIA and the various promoters.

We are also particularly pleased that Pirelli will once again be on track at the Macau event, supplying the FR and the F4 cars as they tackle the Guia Circuit, one of the most exciting challenges in motor racing.”

This will be the 33rd edition of what is a unique event in the world of motorsport, given that it pits drivers that excel in various disciplines, from Formula 1 to rallying, as well as other four and two wheeled competitions on both road and track, against one another. Since 1988, the Race of Champions has been held in 11 countries, featuring prestigious locations, such as the Olympic stadia in Peking and London, and the latter city’s Wembley Stadium, the Stade de France in Paris, the Foro Sol in Mexico City, as well as other cities including Bangkok, Miami, Riad and the islands of Gran Canaria and Barbados. It has even been staged near the Arctic Circle in the Swedish city of Pitea. This year it makes its debut in Oceania, specifically, the beautiful city of Sydney. 

In the past, the Race Of Champions has featured legendary names including, from Germany, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, France’s Sebastien Loeb and Finland’s Marcus Gronholm, with American racing represented by Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Josef Newgarden. This year’s entry list is equally impressive, with the return of the 2015 winner, Vettel, as well as Loeb who actually beat the four time Formula 1 world champion to clinch the win in 2022. Also taking part, from Germany, a 2023 finalist, Mick Schumacher, the Finn Valtteri Bottas, Australia’s Will Brown, the reigning Supercars champion, Sweden’s Johan Kristofferson, a seven time WRX world champion, the American 2004 NASCAR champion Kurt Busch and another Swede Mattias Ekström, a two time DTM champion and the most successful ROC competitor with four previous wins to his name.

All competitors will go head-to-head in a variety of cars, four-wheel drive ones for rallycross and rear-wheel drive for the on and offroad events, with drivers racing in a type of against-the-clock challenge on two parallel tracks created within the Accor Stadium, a venue that has hosted many great events, including the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Rugby World Cup final in 2003 and the women’s football World Cup in 2023. Pirelli will supply all the cars, using the most suitable tyres from the range used in the FIA World Rally Championship up to the end of last year, as well as those used on track in GT races, in a variety of sizes from 15” to 18”, selected with the aim of allowing the drivers to put on the best possible show.

On Friday 7 March, the drivers will be paired up according to their nationality as they compete in the Nations Cup. The individual competition takes place the next day, with preliminary heats followed by knockout rounds to decide who can claim the title of Champion of Champions.

Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director:
“The Race Of Champions is a unique event, because it sees drivers from very different disciplines compete on equal terms, highlighting their talent and providing a very exciting show. For Pirelli this partnership is a great opportunity to be associated with an event which is now a traditional fixture on the motorsport calendar and which, this year, is taking place for the first time in Australia, a country known for its great love of motorsport.”

Fredrik Johnsson, President and Owner of the Race Of Champions:
“We are very pleased to welcome Pirelli as the Official Tyre Supplier to the Race Of Champions World Final in Sydney. We spoke at length with Mario (Isola) about how well Pirelli and the Race Of Champions go together and of the many activation opportunities we will be able to develop together to celebrate two iconic elements of motorsport, the brand and Pirelli tyres. We hope that the ROC Sydney will be the start of a long and mutually successful partnership.”

The overwhelming majority of that distance was covered on the slick tyres: only 6.31% of those kilometres were driven on the Cinturato Intermediate or Cinturato Extreme Wet. The key protagonist (unsurprisingly, as it was nominated for every race) was the C3: used for 105,499 kilometres, which is more than a third of the total distance driven (36.57%). The C4 was the second most-used compound, with 27.43% of the total, followed by the C2 (15.41%) and C5 (13.55%). The least-used compound was the C1, with 5.73% of the total distance. The 3,800 kilometres driven during grand prix weekends on prototype tyres also need to be added to the total: in Barcelona, Suzuka, and Mexico City.

The longest stint of the year was completed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. On only his second Formula 1 race appearance, the Australian was forced to stop at the end of lap one to change a damaged front wing following contact with Pierre Gasly. At the same time, he bolted on a set of C2 tyres that he drove all the way to the flag: a total distance of 302.5 kilometres. In doing so, Piastri went two kilometres further than Esteban Ocon, who drove a single set of C3 tyres for 302.5 kilometres in Baku after starting on them from the pit lane, before making his mandatory pit stop on the penultimate of 51 scheduled laps. The Azerbaijan street circuit was also the scene of the longest stint of the year on the softest compound: Valtteri Bottas completed the entire sprint race distance on Saturday afternoon (17 laps, equivalent to 102 kilometres) with a set of C5 tyres. Bottas also holds the record for the longest distance on the hardest compound; namely 32 laps (equivalent to 188.4 kilometres) at Silverstone. The longest stint on the C4 was completed by another Alfa Romeo driver: Guanyu Zhou, who used it for 212.7 kilometres in Singapore.

Throughout the 2023 season, there were three different weekend formats with specific rules relating to tyre use. A total of 14 races adopted the classic weekend schedule of three free practice sessions, qualifying, and the race, while there were also six Sprint weekends – with just one free practice on Friday, followed by race qualifying, and Saturday’s Sprint Shootout and Sprint race, before the Grand Prix on Sunday. Finally, the ATA (Alternative Tyre Allocation) format was trialled on two occasions, with the goal of looking at ways to manage tyre use more efficiently. About a thousand sets of slicks for the 22 events were never used, while another 732 were driven only for one to three laps. As for the extreme wet tyres, Pirelli adopted a ‘strip and fit’ methodology this year; allowing tyres that were fitted but never used to be carried over to other events. This will help the teams to improve their tyre management, given that in 2023, for example, 1,304 sets of intermediate and wet tyres never completed a lap.

The Dutch Grand Prix was the race with the most tyre changes this year (counting both ‘real’ pit stops and tyre changes under a red flag). Because the weather kept on changing, with intermittent rain, there were 82 tyre changes in total, using every type of tyre: the three slick compounds, intermediates, and extreme wets were all seen on tack at various points. By contrast, the race with the fewest tyre changes was Miami, where all 20 drivers carried out just their one obligatory pit stop under the rules. The total number of tyre changes during the year (considering the sprint races as well) was 871.

Austin proved to be the hottest race of the year in terms of ambient temperature, with 34.7 degrees centigrade on Saturday during the Sprint race and 32.8 degrees during Sunday’s Grand Prix. Zandvoort was the coolest, with an average temperature of 15.1 degrees. In terms of asphalt temperature, Hungaroring was the hottest race of the year with 53.6 degrees, while the coolest was Las Vegas with 18.5 degrees.

THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO SERVES TO MAKE FORMULA 1 MORE SUSTAINABLE: FROM 2024, ALL THE F1 TYRES USED WILL BE FSC CERTIFIED (FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL)

Pirelli has extended its presence in Formula 1 as Global Tyre Partner, after Formula 1© and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) accepted the Italian tyre firm’s offer for the three-year period from 2025 to 2027. There is also the additional option, from the FIA and FOM, to prolong the partnership for a further season. This latest agreement, set in motion with the technical dossier received from the FIA in June, has been ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council and nominates Pirelli as sole supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship as well as the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships.

By the end of this latest contract (including the possible extension), Pirelli will have supplied Formula 1 for 18 consecutive years, having opened its most recent chapter in 2011. Throughout that era, Pirelli has been at the forefront of all the technical challenges posed by the pinnacle of motorsport. From its debut in 2011 with 13-inch high-degradation tyres to hybrid power units in 2014, then wider tyres from 2017 before moving to the current 18-inch size from 2022, Pirelli has always risen to the occasion with reliable products through every type of surface and weather, supporting the teams, the FIA, and Formula 1 in a timely and flexible way.

Pirelli’s commitment to Formula 1 – as is the case with all forms of motorsport, where the firm has been present for more than 110 years, in over 350 championships worldwide – represents an extraordinary opportunity to innovative and experiment with new processes and technologies. These include artificial intelligence: all with the aim of technology transfer onto the road.

Pirelli is not only Formula 1’s tyre supplier but also a global partner in the worldwide promotion of the sport, thanks to a number of initiatives both on and off the track. These include projects aimed at bringing on the next generation of young drivers throughout all the different feeder series – notably Formula 2 and Formula 3.

In addition, Pirelli supports the environmental sustainability targets set by Formula 1, as the sport has pledged to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030. The company is on the front line of research and development – together with the FIA and Formula 1 – into innovations on both a sporting and technical level, to complement the work already carried out to reduce CO₂ emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a Formula 1 tyre.

As a further demonstration of Pirelli’s sustainability work, starting from 2024, all tyres used in FIA Formula One World Championship events will be FSC®-certified (Forest Stewardship Council®)*. FSC forest management certification ensures full traceability of forest based materials along the supply chain and confirms that the plantations of the forest-based components of the tyres are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and brings benefits to the lives of local communities and workers, while fostering economic sustainability

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Executive Vice Chairman:

“We’re delighted to extend or presence in Formula 1 and its other related championships. Pirelli was there when Formula 1 was born in 1950, and with this latest renewal, the firm will now be a protagonist throughout nearly two decades of the modern Formula 1 era. Thanks to the impetus from Liberty Media and the support of the FIA, the sport is enjoying an extraordinary period of growth both in terms of audience and global expansion, increasing its following among younger generations as well. Innovation and technology are locked into Pirelli’s DNA, and Formula 1 constitutes the ultimate open air laboratory to not only try out and test new technical solutions, but also to accelerate fresh research, development, and production processes in making tyres. I would also like to thank everyone at Pirelli for their passionate commitment and the quality of their work over the years, which will continue as we extend this partnership together. Our commitment to sustainability is equally strong, as proved by the FSC certification that will be introduced to our F1 tyres from next year. Being at the forefront of motorsport’s pinnacle until at least 2027 adds another important value dimension to our company.”

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA:

“Pirelli has been operating at the top level of motor sport for many years and I am sure that they will continue to deliver innovation and excellence on the world stage. Formula 1 is a unique challenge for the tyre supplier, and Pirelli has demonstrated great commitment to producing tyres that meet the extreme demands of these incredible cars. I would like to thank Pirelli for its ongoing support of motor sport not only in Formula 1, but in many other championships and categories at every level. Work will continue in the coming years to take further strides both in terms of performance and sustainability, and Pirelli have made strong commitments to both of these targets.”

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1:

“Since returning to the sport in 2011 Pirelli has been an invaluable partner, supporting Formula 1 through new generations of technology and technical regulations and delivering tyres to enable fantastic racing for our fans. The company’s commitment to quality, innovation and their deep knowledge of our sport will be vital in the coming years as we approach our new regulations in 2026 and the work Pirelli is focused on relating to sustainability, proven by the FSC certification, will ensure we continue to work together towards our shared Net Zero 2030 goal.”

* FSC® N003618

The new specification introduces materials planned for 2024, with the move made necessary because of the increase in car performance – in terms of both speed and downforce – seen over the first few races compared to pre-season simulation data supplied by the teams. It’s also likely that this performance will increase still further over the rest of the season.

Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport, Mario Isola, said: “We’ve seen how much more performance the 2023 cars have compared to last year throughout the opening races of this season, and that is thanks to the extraordinary pace of development shown by all 10 of the teams. In Miami, for example, the pole time was nearly two seconds faster than last year, but the same sort of progress has been seen during races as well. Pirelli’s simulation work has always been aimed at not only supplying a product that hits the performance targets specified by stakeholders, but also anticipating any potential problems and reacting to them quickly. The new specification contains materials that we have already developed for 2024, which will make the tyres more resistant without affecting any of the other technical parameters or their behaviour on track. To allow all the teams to test the new construction on a level playing field, Pirelli will supply two extra tyre sets per car to be used during FP1 and FP2 at the Spanish Grand Prix.”

The framework described by the FIA is closely aligned to Pirelli’s motorsport strategy and so is of great interest, with the Italian company having been Global Tyre Partner to the sport for more than a decade, since 2011. A definitive decision about Pirelli’s participation in the selection process will naturally be taken after a detailed examination of the FIA’s document.

Bonciani, from Florence in Italy, is a professional journalist who joined Ferrari’s product and Formula 1 press office in the 2000s before becoming Communications Director for the Asia-Pacific region. He moved to the FIA, International Automobile Federation, in 2010 prior to being appointed as Formula 1 Head of Communications one year later: a position he held until 2019.

A FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND YOUNG DRIVERS ON THE 150^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPANY’S FOUNDATION

A RENEWED RANGE OF PRODUCTS FOR ALL THE MAJOR SERIES: F1, WRC AND GT

SUSTAINABILITY THE CENTREPIECE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: ALSO IN MOTORSPORT

ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOMORROW’S CHAMPIONS

Technology, sustainability and support for young talents are the three cornerstones of Pirelli’s 2022 motorsport campaign which was presented today. This will be a particularly significant season for the Italian firm, which celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year, having been originally founded on January 28, 1872.

Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport, commented: “This year’s motorsport season, which gets underway shortly with Rallye Monte-Carlo, marks a turning point for us. We have new products for all our major championships, starting with Formula 1, which reinforce the close links with our road car product. We’re also continuing our mission for increasingly sustainable motorsport, in line with our company strategy, having been awarded an important environmental certification from the FIA at the end of last year. And as always, we look to the future by continuing to support motorsport’s brightest up-and-coming talents.”

Motorsport has always played an important role in Pirelli’s history, with competition being a part of it for the last 115 years. The first major success came back in 1907, when Prince Scipione Borghese won the gruelling Peking to Paris race with an Itala on Pirelli tyres. Today, Pirelli takes part in more than 350 different series all over the world, while 2022 opens up a significant new technical chapter. The Formula 1 World Championship introduces new 18-inch tyres, while Pirelli has also created tyres for the latest hybrid formula in the World Rally Championship, not to mention a new range of tyres that covers all the classes in GT racing. On top of that, there’s a focus on different sustainability programmes through motorsport, as well as initiatives to support young drivers.

Pirelli’s 2022 motorsport programme was set out in a live-streamed press conference hosted by Head of Motorsport Mario Isola, as well as Rally Activity Manager Terenzio Testoni and GT Circuit Activity Manager Matteo Braga, with a live link to FIA Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid. There were also appearances on video from rally drivers Craig Breen and Oliver Solberg, both supported by Pirelli at the start of their careers.

THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE NEW TYRES

Formula 1. Formula 1 is about to embark on a technical revolution with Pirelli at the forefront, just as was the case when the championship was first inaugurated in 1950. After more than half a century of 13-inch tyres, the size will now increase to 18 inches, playing a key part in the new technical regulations for 2022, which re-introduce ground effect.  
The new 18-inch tyres were designed from the ground-up, with every element of the tyre drawn from a clean sheet of paper: from the profile, to the structure, to the compounds.
The design process took in  more than 10,000 hours of indoor testing, more than 5000 hours of simulation, and more than 70 prototypes developed virtually, to eventually create 30 different specifications that were tested by nearly all the teams over more than 20,000 kilometres. The role of the drivers was crucial, with each of them contributing to the development at various points and helping Pirelli arrive at the definitive specifications thanks to their feedback.
The new tyres have a wider working range than their 13-inch predecessors, without compromising warm-up. As a result, overheating is limited and degradation is reduced. There are additionally new temperatures for the tyre blankets. All the tyres will now be heated up to 70 degrees, rather than 100 degrees at the front and 80 degrees at the rear, as was the case previously. The reduction of tyre blanket temperatures is part of a plan to gradually eliminate tyre blankets over the coming seasons, to help reduce electricity consumption and aid sustainability.
The new 18-inch tyres are also more similar to the tyres used every day by ordinary motorists, which helps Pirelli to transfer Formula 1 technology onto the road car product.

Rally. Pirelli has also been present in rallying from the very beginning: since the very first World Rally Championship was run in 1973. The Italian firm has been at the cutting-edge of tyre technology ever since, with 2022 marking the introduction of hybrid engines on World Rally Cars. Pirelli has evolved its entire range of  P Zero, Scorpion and Sottozero tyres to cope with the extra weight and additional power of the new Rally1 formula.
The P Zero tyres for asphalt and Scorpion covers for gravel benefit from a reinforced structure and optimised design in order to cope with the increased demands due to the 100 kilograms of extra weight, as well as the increased torque from the electric hybrid units.
These new tyres were first tested with the teams during sessions held at the end of 2021. The data gathered during winter testing, as well as the information obtained from the rallies held in 2022, will provide additional reference points for any future evolutions of these products, in line with Pirelli’s philosophy of continual development. Finally, the studded ice tyre that will make its debut in Sweden benefits form a reinforced structure and improved studs.

GT Series. In GT racing, Pirelli has optimised all its knowledge and production processes to create a more streamlined range of tyres and increase efficiency as well as stock control. The new range of tyres, called P Zero DHF, has been designed to cater for every class of GT racing: GT2, GT3 and GT4.
The new P Zero DHF takes over from both the DHE that has been used up to now for GT3, as well as the DHB that has been used for GT4. The P Zero DHF makes use of a new family of materials, which guarantee a wider working range – especially in warmer conditions – and a new construction that improves the balance between front and rear. The result is increased performance, greater versatility, and a better feeling for the driver. There will also be a renewed range of tyres for the one-make championships supplied by Pirelli, which is a partner to some of the most prestigious car makers in the world, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren. These innovations will benefit not only the drivers in those series, but also drivers of similar road-going examples on the streets.
Reinforcing the close links between road and track, the Trans-Am series in the United States will swap 16-inch tyres for 18-inch tyres this year. The Spa 24 Hours will remain Pirelli’s biggest and busiest single motorsport event of the season: involving more than 100 people of 13 different nationalities as well as nearly 30 trucks, needed to transport more than 13,000 tyres.  GT racing represents Pirelli’s core values, thanks to the collaboration with car manufacturers that allows Pirelli to maximise the lessons learned on the race track to develop the latest generation of P Zero ultra high performance tyres for the road.

INCREASINGLY SUSTAINABLE MOTORSPORT

A focus on environmental sustainability has always been central to Pirelli’s strategy and is fully integrated into the company’s business model. As Robert Reid, the FIA’s Deputy President for Sport (who is also responsible for sustainability) pointed out, Pirelli is the first and only tyre maker in the world to have scored three stars in the FIA’s Environmental Accreditation Programme: a prestigious recognition for the company’s efforts with regard to sustainability in motorsport. Among the measures that Pirelli has undertaken to gain this accolade in Formula 1 is the increased use of renewable materials, the elimination of single-use plastics from on-track activities, and a supply chain that is entirely managed according to environmental and social sustainability practices. Furthermore, Pirelli’s motorsport activity has successfully passed a series of rigorous sustainability audits that take into account several different elements to help reduce environmental impact, starting with carbon emissions. Sustainability is also at the heart of the development of Pirelli’s new GT tyre – the P Zero DHF – thanks to the extensive use of virtual modelling, which means that the number of physical prototypes needed can be reduced. The latest range of DHF tyres includes new types of renewable materials that help Pirelli to reach its ambitious environmental targets, while using the same tyre for different classes means that the impact on the environment is reduced from a logistical point of view.
Examples of Pirelli’s environmental sustainability objectives, both in business and manufacturing, include a reduction of overall CO2 emissions by 25% by 2025 (compared to 2015 levels) and a quota equivalent to 100% of electrical energy acquired from renewable sources: an objective that has already been reached for Pirelli’s European factories, which includes the motorsport factories in Slatina (Romania) and Izmit (Turkey).
When it comes to logistics, Pirelli uses a fleet of the most recent Euro 6D trucks to transport tyres and chooses to send as much freight as possible by sea, which is much less polluting than air freight.
In future, Pirelli’s environmental strategy will enable the company – including the motorsport division – to become entirely carbon neutral by 2030, thanks to aggressive plans to replace fossil fuel with 100% renewable energy.
Pirelli is also engaged in research projects to recover valuable materials from motorsport tyres at the end of their lives, and the company is evaluating innovative ideas to extract primary materials from used tyres as they are recycled. To increase the number of tyres involved in this process, Pirelli has started a campaign within the wider world of motorsport to recover all the tyres used internationally throughout a variety of motorsport competitions.

SUPPORTING YOUNG TALENTS

Helping young talents to develop their skills is another important aspect that has always characterised Pirelli’s approach to motorsport, thanks to various programmes in Formula 1 as well as the World Rally Championship, not to mention many other national championships.
In 2022, Pirelli’s support of young drivers is intensified thanks not only to the firm’s continued involvement in the Junior WRC – which this year uses four-wheel drive cars for the first time – but also with its backing of the FIA Rally Star programme: a new competition launched and run by the FIA to find new rallying talents among youngsters between 17 and 26. This is an evolution of the famous Pirelli Star Driver scheme that launched talents such as Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans, while Craig Breen graduated from another well-known Pirelli-backed initiative to find future rally drivers: the WRC Academy. The young drivers in the Rally Star programme are chosen through a layered selection process based on digital motorsport as well as real driving.
Similar initiatives are in place to help propel promising circuit drivers towards Formula 1 as well. For many years, Pirelli has awarded a cash scholarship to the winning Formula 3 driver, as a helping hand towards the top.
Another important project supported by Pirelli is the FIA Girls on Track programme, designed to promote female drivers and the participation of women in motorsport. All this in the spirit of inclusion and equality, which has always been a priority for Pirelli.

Pirelli's environmental approach will enable the group to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Motorsport activities are also moving in this direction, starting with Formula 1™: the company's principal campaign. Examples of Pirelli’s own environmental sustainability objectives, both in business and manufacturing, include the reduction of overall CO₂ emissions by 25% by 2025 (compared to 2015 levels) as well as the aim of purchasing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources: a target already achieved for all of Pirelli’s European plants.

Some of the measures that Pirelli has undertaken within Formula 1™ include increasing the use of renewable materials, elimination of single-use plastics from its trackside operations, and a supply chain that is fully managed according to environmental and social sustainability criteria. On top of that, Pirelli’s motorsport operation has successfully complied with a number of stringent sustainability audits that take in everything from carbon emissions to environmental impact.

Pirelli’s Senior Vice President of Prestige, Motorsport, Sustainability, and Future Mobility Giovanni Tronchetti Provera commented: “It’s a great honour for us to achieve the recognition of three stars from the FIA, as a focus on environmental sustainability is central to Pirelli’s development strategy and fully embedded in our motorsport business model. We have always placed an emphasis on sustainability in motorsport, working closely with the FIA and fully sharing the same vision of sustainable mobility and sport.”

FIA President Jean Todt said: “The FIA certification programme is an important standard to measure sustainability across motor sport. Congratulations to Pirelli’s motorsport team for achieving the level required to attain the three-star rating, which underlines its commitment to our crucial common objectives for environment.”

Stefano Domenicali, President and Chief Executive Officer of Formula 1™, added: “Pirelli has demonstrated a clear environmental direction and commitment that has led to it becoming the very first tyre company to pick up this award in motorsport. Formula 1 is well known for its innovation and technology, and we are using that heritage to ensure we have a sustainable future and solutions that can make a real-world difference. I want to congratulate Pirelli on this very impressive achievement and their ongoing dedication to Formula 1.”

Pirelli's commitment to the creation of sustainable value, a characteristic of the company's responsible management and its economic, social and environmental performances, has resulted in its inclusion in some of the world’s most prestigious sustainability stock market indices. In 2021, Pirelli was confirmed in the Dow Jones World and Europe Sustainability Indices and Global Compact LEAD of the United Nations: the only company from the Automobiles and Parts sector at global level. In 2020, the company was reconfirmed as one of the Global Leaders in the fight against climate change, gaining a place on the CDP’s Climate A list. Pirelli was also the only company in the Auto Components sector worldwide to be awarded the Gold Class Distinction in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2021.

About the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme:

The FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme is aimed at helping motor sport and mobility stakeholders worldwide to measure and enhance their environmental performance. By introducing a clear and consistent environmental management system, it provides stakeholders with a three-level framework against which to accredit their activities:

1. One-Star – Basic practice: Demonstrate basic environmental performance and a commitment to improve.

2. Two-Star – Good practice: Demonstrate good environmental performance and be close to follow internationally developed roadmaps toward environmental management.

3. Three-Star – Best practice: Demonstrate best practice and commitment to seek continual improvement through the implementation of an environmental management system.

The switch to new low-profile tyres represents a technical revolution for the pinnacle of world motorsport, requiring an intense research and development programme that featured both indoor and outdoor testing. Compared to the previous-generation 13-inch covers, the move to 18 inches marks a clean-sheet design, with Pirelli’s engineers re-thinking every element of the tyre: from the profile to the structure to the compounds. There were 28 days of track testing for the new 18-inch tyres throughout 2021, making a grand total of 36 including the test days carried out at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020, before a delay to the programme caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The development campaign for the new 18-inch tyres was a comprehensive operation from start to finish, involving more than 10,000 hours of indoor testing, more than 5000 hours of simulation, and more than 70 prototypes developed virtually, which resulted in 30 physical specifications tested on-track by the drivers. A total of 4267 laps were driven, making up more than 20,000 kilometres: around half the earth’s circumference. The numbers of sets used was 392, equivalent to 1568 tyres.

Nearly all the teams took part in Pirelli’s test programme along with 19 drivers: 15 of whom are regular competitors in the championship. The role of the drivers was crucial, with each one offering his own perspective throughout the different phases of development. This valuable feedback helped Pirelli evolve the new tyres step by step, taking into account the drivers’ comments and expectations.

MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING

“With this latest wet test we finally close our development schedule for the new 18-inch tyres. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that we had to revise our test programme entirely, cancelling on-track testing to concentrate on simulation as well as virtual development and modelling. This system of virtual screening helped us optimise the number of physical prototypes produced and return to on-track testing for 28 days throughout 2021. We started off the development process with the profile, before moving onto the base construction, and finally homing in on the five compounds that we will homologate for next year. The results obtained up to now have been arrived at with the input of the drivers currently competing in the championship, a vital aspect for us, albeit using mule cars. Next year, we will still have some test days at our disposal, which will allow us to fine-tune the 2022 tyre with the new cars if needed. Once the specification has been validated by the FIA, the drivers will have the chance to try out the definitive 18-inch tyres at the test after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although we will have to wait for next year’s pre-season tests to see these tyres in action on the 2022 cars for the first time.”

It’s the size of the rim that changes, adding five inches to the diameter that has held sway in grand prix racing since the 1960s; with compact, very wide tyres featuring a 'pot-bellied' sidewall that have kept Formula 1^® on track for more than half a century.

Now it’s time to change to a more modern approach. With a bigger emphasis on technological proximity to the road car product as well as aesthetics, the brand new P Zero F1^® tyre has the same tread width as before (305 millimetres at the front and 405 millimetres at the rear) but a slightly bigger overall diameter, which grows from 660 millimetres to 720 millimetres. The most significant change is a reduction in the sidewall, which now resembles that of the low-profile Pirelli tyres that for years have been the preferred choice of the world’s leading performance road cars.

This new profile will change the behaviour of the Formula 1^® cars on track, making them more precise when changing direction. From the tests carried out so far – in both dry and wet conditions – the drivers’ feedback has been positive and the new tyres will contribute to even more competitive races, with cars that are less sensitive to aerodynamic turbulence while following behind one another. The lower sidewall also means that the tyre will flex less, meaning that it will have less impact on the overall aerodynamics of the car. All of which should favour close racing.

The compounds for the 18-inch tyres will also be completely new, to ensure maximum consistency and less overheating. Five compound grades will be available for the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship^™, three of which will be chosen for each race weekend; just as is the case currently.

By going from 13-inch to 18-inch, Pirelli is the only tyre manufacturer that has competed in Formula 1^® with all the wheel sizes that have been part of the World Championship’s history. It’s a story that began in 1950, thanks to Pirelli’s first wins and titles with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati: front-engined Formula 1^® cars that ran on tall and narrow tyres. As time went on, the sport moved onto 13-inch tyres, before Pirelli embarked on its current era as the Global Tyre Partner of Formula 1^® in 2011. In 2017, Pirelli innovated by introducing tyres that were 25% wider than they had been previously, providing a bigger footprint and more grip, which in turn resulted in lap records being lowered all over the world.

Now, another fresh chapter is opened with 18-inch tyres: a new dimension with which Pirelli is privileged to accompany Formula 1^® into the future.

These trophies were made by the Italian artist selected for this project thanks to her collaboration with Pirelli HangarBicocca: a non-profit foundation dedicated to the production and promotion of contemporary art, established in Milan in 2004 from a converted warehouse.

The title sponsor at every race is able to choose the trophies given to the drivers on the podium, and Pirelli – a company always proud to highlight its origins – has decided to celebrate Italian art.

The trophies, which are really innovative in terms of conception and symbolic aspect, depict a lightning bolt and were made in the artist’s studio using aluminium, before being mirror-polished. The creative process included digital modelling of the eventual form, 3D 1:1 printing and wax casting in a foundry. According to the artist herself, the trophy was inspired by the beauty of a 1950s racing car and the landscape of Imola. The artist chose to focus on history as well as what she identified as the prevalent theme of Formula 1: power.

Alice Ronchi said: “I saw the lightning bolt as a symbol of power, speed, tension, and force. And this goes right back to the principal icons that inspired this work: Zeus, the gods, and ancient Greece. Hopefully, this trophy delivers a new narrative aspect. Through an interpretation of aspects that sum up the driving forces behind every grand prix, as well as the use of the lightning bolt and the reference to the myth of Zeus, I wanted to convey a story told in the most expressive way possible.”

About Alice Ronchi

Alice Ronchi, born in 1989, lives and works in Milan. She gained her BA at Milan’s Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) in 2012, and her MA at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam in 2015. Currently she is teaching at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) in Milan.
In her works, everyday objects meet the world of invention and fantasy. The search for wonder is a constant theme in her work, populated by familiar yet enigmatic figures, that are re-worked in an abstract way. Somewhere between playful and minimalist, her work can be defined as a perfect synthesis between simplicity of expression and complexity of forms and meanings.

Ph. Credits Pirelli HangarBicocca and Alice Ronchi

Pirelli’s first grand prix was the inaugural F1 race at Silverstone in 1950, won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo – who went on to claim the debut title at the end of the year. A replica of the Pirelli Stella Bianca tyre that Farina used to win that British Grand Prix is currently on display in the newly-opened museum at Silverstone in England.

Since then, there have been 240 wins, 243 pole positions, 247 fastest laps, and 727 podium places in Formula 1 for the Italian tyre firm. Bahrain constitutes another important milestone for Pirelli, which has been an integral part of motorsport for more than 110 years after winning the 1907 Peking to Paris race. Over the course of this year, a number of different celebrations are planned on Pirelli’s social media channels to mark the occasion, including a video and the attached infographic that sets out Pirelli’s Formula 1 story up to now in numbers.

MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING

“At Pirelli, we’re very proud of our history, so it’s fantastic to celebrate 400 grands prix. We commemorate this landmark on the verge of a new era: at the start of the final season of 13-inch tyres, before we adopt 18-inch tyres in F1 along with wide-ranging new technical regulations from next year onwards. So as we look back at the past, we’re excited to be writing the next chapter in our story as well.”

Pirelli celebrating 400 Formula 1 Grands Prix

The proceeds from the auction, which can be accessed on https://www.32auctions.com/AIPFoundation, will be entirely donated to the AIP Foundation: a non-profit organisation that has been involved for years in promoting road safety projects ­– in particular for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists – in low and middle-income countries such as those of Southeast Asia.

The AIP Foundation, founded in 1999 by Greig Craft, is an organisation with 22 years of experience behind it. The foundation currently operates in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, India and China, with projects dedicated to education, road safety (particularly in schools) and production of safe yet low-cost helmets for local populations, with the involvement of disabled workers.

The association actively collaborates with the FIA, United Nations Road Safety Collaboration, Child Health Initiative, Safe Kids Worldwide and Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety.

The Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Sailing Team, winner of the PRADA Cup, has raced in New Zealand led by Team Director and Skipper Max Sirena at the 36^th America's Cup presented by PRADA: the world’s oldest sporting trophy and the most coveted on the international sailing scene.

The most recent tyre tender from the FIA and Formula 1 back in 2018 was for the supply of a 13-inch tyre during the 2020 season, followed by three consecutive seasons of 18-inch tyres from 2021 to 2023 inclusive.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which also disrupted the 2020 Formula 1 season, obliged the FIA and Formula 1 to implement emergency measures that included the cancellation of tyre development tests last year and the postponement of planned new technical regulations – which included 18-inch tyres – from 2021 to 2022. As a result, the current rules now state that 13-inch tyres will be used during the 2021 season, with a move to 18-inch tyres in 2022.

Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Officer:

"The pandemic caused disruption across the world and Formula 1 was not immune from that. We therefore took the necessary measures last year to defer the regulations by one year to 2022. We are very proud of our partnership with Pirelli and grateful to them for their constructive approach to this timing change. Pirelli are very conscious of strategic role that the tyres have in F1 and we know that they are working very hard to make sure that their products will represent the best balance between performance and durability in the new technical context. We look forward to the start of the 2021 season and we are all excited for the new cars and new 18-inch tyres to hit the track under the new regulations in 2022.”

Jean Todt, FIA President:

“I want to thank Formula 1 and Pirelli for their collaboration, flexibility and commitment to our sport during this most difficult period. COVID-19 has presented us with significant challenges across all aspects of our businesses, but by working together in a sensible, pragmatic way, we have been able to ensure that the long term stability and strength of Formula 1 remains undiminished. The shift to 18” wheels and tyres will certainly provide a more exciting image for Formula 1 cars, but it has also presented a significant technical challenge requiring a lot of investment and development on behalf of Pirelli as they continue to deliver tyres that will perform at the highest level. In light of this, and the necessary postponement of the new regulations as a result of the pandemic, it is only logical to extend the supply of tyres accordingly”.

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:

"The world of motorsport has also had to face up to the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the FIA and FOM did an extraordinary job to organise a 17-race championship in 2020. We’re obviously pleased to have reached this agreement that will extend our presence at the pinnacle of world motorsport until 2024. Pirelli has been alongside Formula 1 for more than 70 years, since the very first race in 1950, and the company continues to invest in the highest technological levels of research and development, as shown by the introduction of 18-inch tyres from next year. Motorsport forms part of our DNA and Formula 1 represents an open-air laboratory that allows us to apply the know-how gained on track into our road car tyres, starting off with the Ultra High Performance range that equips the most prestigious cars in the world”.

MARIO ISOLA, HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING

"We’re looking forward to resuming our tests for the new 18-inch tyres shortly, but as the Covid-19 pandemic – which led to the suspension of the test programme last year – is not yet over, it’s possible that our planned schedule for this year may have to be modified. As a result, we have a back-up plan too. Nonetheless, we have put together a programme that should enable us to pick up solidly from where we left off in 2019 and finalise the specification for a new generation of tyre under fresh regulations that will give Formula 1 a very different look next year. Many thanks to all the teams for their support in providing simulations and mule cars, giving us a good base to work from. We will be testing both our slick and wet prototype 18-inch tyres for 2022: we started already at Jerez in Spain for three days with Ferrari, and we will end up at France’s Magny-Cours circuit with Alpine in September.”

On Friday the teams will get the chance to run Pirelli’s 2021-specification tyres in Abu Dhabi, as was previously the case in FP1 and FP2 in Bahrain on November 27. These tyres were tested during FP2 in Portimao on October 23, and subsequently homologated by the FIA on November 1.

In Abu Dhabi, the teams will have one set of 2021 C4 compound per car to try out during FP2 only for a minimum of eight timed laps (as opposed to Bahrain, where there were two sets per car of the 2021 C3 compound).

The aim of the test is to allow teams and drivers to gather data that will be useful for next season. The new specification for 2021 has been developed to suit the continued evolution of the current cars and the expected loads on them next year.

Pirelli has left the teams free to define their own run plans in order to collect the information that will be most useful to them, but suggests using reduced pressures: 21.5 psi at the front and 19.5 psi at the back (1.5 psi and 0.5 psi lower respectively than the 2020 specification). Pirelli also suggests modifying the car set-up to allow the new structure to work at its best and compensate for any effects such as understeer.

The key reason is down to a set of individual race circumstances that led to an extremely long use of the second set of tyres. The second safety car period prompted nearly all the teams to anticipate their planned pit stop and so carry out a particularly long final stint: around 40 laps, which is more than three-quarters the total race length on one of the most demanding tracks of the calendar.

Combined with the notably increased pace of the 2020 Formula 1 cars (pole position was 1.2 seconds faster compared to 2019) this made the final laps of the British Grand Prix especially tough, as a consequence of the biggest forces ever seen on tyres generated by the fastest Formula 1 cars in history.

The overall result was the most challenging operating conditions for tyres. These led to the front-left tyre (which is well-known for working hardest at Silverstone) being placed under maximum stress after a very high number of laps, with the resulting high wear meaning that it was less protected from the extreme forces in play.

For the second race at Silverstone this weekend, Pirelli confirms the nominated compounds: C2, C3, and C4, being one step softer than those seen at the last GP.

Also the usage prescription will be reviewed, increasing the minimum tyre pressures to reduce the stress on the construction.

Having tested 18-inch tyres in a series of private sessions last year, F2 has been racing on the new larger diameter since the start of this season in Austria. When F1 adopts the bigger tyre size in 2022, the cars will look different, so it’s hard to compare. But this year’s F2 cars are virtually unchanged since last year, with only relatively minor modifications to the chassis. And this allows a clearer comparison from different angles.

FASTER LAP TIMES. The larger wheels and tyres, plus other modifications mentioned earlier, mean that a F2 car now weighs about 30 kilograms more than last year, which should theoretically result in lap times that are a full second per lap slower. However, the racing lap times in Austria actually proved to be faster than they were last year, even taking into account the difference in weather conditions. This comes from the increased grip and speed through corners in particular, adding up to an overall faster lap time.

BETTER FEELING. Not only that, but the drivers also enjoyed the feeling of the new 18-inch tyres. Formula 2 adopts a slightly different philosophy to Formula 1, as the tyres still have a deliberate degree of degradation, to help young drivers learn about tyre management.

MORE CONSISTENCY. Nonetheless, the drivers enjoyed the extra consistency that allowed them to push more consistently throughout the whole of a stint, with less drop-off in performance. Degradation was also reduced, and a wide variety of strategies were seen in the feature race, with some strong fightbacks.

STRONG IN THE WET. The F2 drivers also had the opportunity to sample the 18-inch Cinturato wet tyres both in Austria and in Hungary, reporting good driveability even in full wet conditions; as could also be seen from the high top speeds recorded at the end of the straight.

MARIO ISOLA, HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING – “Although we won’t see any 18-inch Formula 1 tyres testing on track until next year, what we’ve already seen in Formula 2 is a very encouraging sign for the future. The compound steps are similar to last year and the cars are exactly the same, which means that all these comparisons between 13-inch and 18-inch tyres are entirely valid. The new-generation 2022 F1 cars will be heavier with different aerodynamics, which should bring overall lap times down a bit, but we can expect more consistency, less overheating and an even better show: which our new tyres will play an integral role in helping to provide.”

Together Pirelli, the FIA and the F1 Teams have taken into account several different factors in reaching this decision:

• The teams will no longer have to modify the designs of their 2020 cars, which would otherwise have been necessary to accommodate the different profile of the 2020 tyre construction.
• This will now allow the teams to continue the development of their 2020 cars – which are already at an advanced stage – uninterrupted.
• The use of the 2019 tyres also guarantees the teams stability, with the advantage of using a well-known product during the final season of the current regulations.

The new solutions for the 2020 construction tyres tested last week in Abu Dhabi, which Pirelli will continue to develop further for the 18-inch era from 2021, allow lower tyre pressures than those used at the moment to be run. As a result, they are able to compensate for the increased performance expected from the next generation of cars.

These new solutions seen on the 18-inch tyres that will be used from 2021 onwards, with the first on-track tests in this size have already shown positive results.

The development test campaign with 18-inch tyres for 2021 onwards will continue throughout 2020, beginning in February with Ferrari at Jerez in Spain. 

MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF F1 AND CAR RACING

“We were delighted to open up a brand new chapter at Paul Ricard, with the debut for our 18-inch tyres – which will change the face of Formula 1 – taking place alongside our latest development test for next year’s 13-inch tyres. Renault provided a 2018 mule car for the 18-inch test, with Sergey Sirotkin driving to mark this historic moment. We completed our planned programme as expected, covering 213 laps with the 18-inch tyres over two days. This was very useful for us to take a first look at the new generation of tyres and start shaping the development path that we will follow for the remainder of this year and next year. Of course, it is hard to read too much into this test as these are still very early days, but we have accumulated all the preliminary data that we wanted in good weather conditions, so thank you very much to Renault and to Sergey for their availability. With the 13-inch 2020 tyres, we covered 212 laps over the two days thanks to Esteban Ocon and Mercedes. The work consisted of assessing a range of prototype slick tyres, as we begin to finalise next year’s specification: the last season of 13-inch tyres before we move on to 18 inches in 2021.”